Differences in NAFLD/NASH Management by Provider Specialty: Opportunities for Optimizing Multidisciplinary Care

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Gastroenterology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Medical Education

Background:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represent a growing spectrum of metabolic liver disease.
• Optimal patient care necessitates a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach involving various medical specialists and primary care providers.
• Identifying gaps in current medical education is crucial for enhancing the management of NAFLD/NASH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current diagnostic and management strategies for NAFLD/NASH among US clinicians.
• To identify areas for improvement in medical education for a multidisciplinary team caring for NAFLD/NASH patients.

Main Methods:

• A survey instrument with a patient case vignette was developed and distributed to US clinicians.
• The survey collected data on the diagnosis and management approaches for NAFLD/NASH.
• Data analysis was performed using Qualtrics analytic software.

Main Results:

• Significant variation was observed in screening likelihood and initial management strategies for NAFLD/NASH among primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists.
• A notable percentage of clinicians (15-33%) would not involve other specialists in the initial management of NASH.
• Key barriers identified include poor patient adherence to lifestyle modifications and the lack of approved therapies for NASH.

Conclusions:

• Variations in NAFLD/NASH evaluation and management exist across different clinical settings.
• Multidisciplinary education focusing on screening, guideline updates, and new therapies is recommended.
• Optimizing education can lead to more standardized and effective patient care for NAFLD/NASH.