Original Research

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Screening Practices for Diabetic NeuropathyAmong General Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan

Mohsin Masud1
Department of Medicine, Rashid Latif Medical College
Lala Rukh Bangash2
Department of Anesthesia, ICU and Pain Management, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore

✉ Correspondence: Lala Rukh Bangash Email: lala_bangash@yahoo.com

DOI https://doi.org/10.70302/jpsim.v7i1.2603
Volume: 7, Issue 1 Pages: 10–14 Published: 10 Mar 2026
Received: 30 Jun 2025 Revised: 25 Jan 2026 Accepted: 17 Feb 2026 Published Online: 10 Mar 2026

Abstract

Objective

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices of general practitioners (GPs) regarding diabetic neuropathy and identify barriers to guideline implementation in primary care settings.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to December 2024 across Pakistan's public and private outpatient services. A total of 100 licensed GPs involved in diabetic patient care participated in the survey. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS version 25. Responses were reported as frequencies and associations were calculated using a chi-square test with p < 0.05 taken as significant.

Results

Out of 100 participants, 56 scored in the Poor/Fair category, 36 scored Moderate, and only 8 scored Good in the knowledge domain. Routine screening was reported by 46% of respondents; most relied on history and physical examination rather than standardized tools. A significant association was found between screening practices and any formal training (p = 0.002), but not with age or duration of clinical practice.

Conclusion

The findings of this study show the gaps in the knowledge and screening practices of GPs. Routine screening reported by less than 50% of the participants, reliance on informal methods, and inconsistent documentation raise concerns, highlighting an urgent need for targeted educational interventions and reinforcement of screening practices.

Keywords
Diabetic neuropathy general practitioners primary care physicians screening practices knowledge diabetes complications

How to Cite This Article

Masud M, Bangash LR. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Screening Practices for Diabetic NeuropathyAmong General Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan. J Pak Soc Intern Med. 2026;7(1):10–14. doi:10.70302/jpsim.v7i1.2603

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosed in accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines.

Funding

No specific funding was received for this research.

Funder information follows the Crossref Funder Registry standard.

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CC BY CC BY 4.0 This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. May be shared and adapted with attribution. © 2026 Journal of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine.
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