Training hepatologists in alcohol use disorder management: a pilot study

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol associated liver disease (ALD) commonly co-occur, and integrated approaches to treatment are associated with better outcomes. This study aimed to develop an online module, the Program for Advanced Training of Hepatologists in Alcohol Use Disorder Management (PRATHAM), to enroll and train hepatologists, and to evaluate changes in participants' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and self-perceived competence pre- and post-training.

This included identification of specific needs, establishing learning objectives, designing a curriculum, and developing didactic presentations for hepatologists. Interested participants were enrolled in the online module and were asked to submit pre-tests, clinical cases, and a post-test, which included an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, practice, and self-perceived competence. Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the data. An intention-to-treat analysis was used to address missing data.

An 8-week curriculum was developed for 18 hepatologists from five different countries. Of these, 17 completed the pre-test, and 11 filled out the post-test proforma. Eleven complex clinical cases were discussed. There was a significant improvement in the participants' knowledge, practice, and self-perceived competence pre- and post-training. However, no significant change in attitudes was noted.

This study underscores the importance of tailored educational interventions in medical specialties such as hepatology, where practitioners frequently encounter patients with AUD. The significant improvements in practice, self-efficacy, and knowledge highlight the potential of targeted training programs to enhance patient care. Future studies could engage a more diverse group of hepatologists and evaluate patient outcomes.