An Educational Needs Assessment for Patients with Liver Disease

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Medical Education
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Liver disease poses a significant global health challenge, impacting morbidity and mortality.
• Effective patient education is crucial for disease management, promoting knowledge and behavioral changes.
• Understanding patient educational needs is vital for developing targeted and effective health information resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the educational needs of patients diagnosed with liver disease.
• To identify preferred learning methods for liver disease information among patients.
• To evaluate patient interest in understanding their liver condition in detail.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a questionnaire-based approach.
• Data collected included patient demographics and perceived/unperceived educational needs regarding hepatitis B and C.
• 300 patients attending a tertiary liver center completed the study questionnaire.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of patients (84.9%) expressed strong interest in learning more about their liver condition.
• Most patients desired moderate to extensive detail (94.6%) in educational materials.
• Interest in learning was associated with the number of clinic visits (p=0.022) but not duration of follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Patients demonstrate substantial interest in liver disease education, suggesting a need for expanded educational initiatives.
• Preferred learning methods include reading (online or print) and direct one-to-one discussions.
• These findings can inform the development of successful, patient-centered educational strategies for liver disease management.