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The following is a summary of “Neuropathic Pain in Nursing Homes,” published in the May 2025 issue of European Journal of Pain by Pickering et al. 

Pain was frequently underrecognized in older adults (OAs), particularly among nursing home residents, despite established quality indicators for its management.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP), a condition in neurology, its evaluation and treatment, and the practices and needs of healthcare professionals to improve its management.  

They obtained ethical approval [IRB number 2023-CF230] and conducted an online survey using REDCap software from 4 March 2024 to 28 June 2024 to collect data from healthcare professionals in nursing homes. The survey included 3 sections: prevalence of NP, evaluation of the 4 steps of the NP management algorithm (detection, evaluation, treatment, and re-evaluation), and awareness and professional needs.  

The results showed that responses were collected from 9 nursing homes, covering 841 residents, with around 50% aged between 75 and 85 years. The prevalence of NP was 8.5% [4.2; 12.7]. Satisfaction with the clinical relevance of each step in the NP management algorithm had a mean ± SD of 7.9 ± 1.5. A total of 96.8% of respondents indicated the need for targeted training in NP management within their care setting.  

Investigators concluded that NP was likely underrecognized due to diagnostic challenges, and the proposed algorithm proved useful in practice while underscoring the need for targeted training. 

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejp.70035