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Primary care practitioners survey of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease In the Americas, the prevalence of NAFLD is on the rise. The first step in attempting to control this disease is to identify it as early as possible at the primary care level. Through a survey, Said A, et al. provide a first glimpse of primary care practitioners’ knowledge and attitudes towards NAFLD. Unfortunately the results are disheartening: even in the obese and/or diabetic group with high rates of NAFLD, more than half of primary care practitioners did not screen for NAFLD at all. Only 58% of primary care practitioners recommended weight loss as the first step in management of suspected NAFLD. Majority (84%) of respondents to the survey underestimated prevalence of NAFLD in the general and obese population. This is not unique to primary care practitioners in Wisconsin, USA. Hepatologist everywhere continue to see increasing referrals of patients suspected with NAFLD for diagnosis and management. There are multiple consensus guidelines on NAFLD including one from the World Gastroenterology Organisation, but these are not geared specifically for primary care practitioners. As part of their mandate regarding knowledge translation, It is necessary that hepatology associations collaborate with primary care practitioners to understand better the barriers they face for identification and management of NAFLD otherwise this condition will overwhelm the limited hepatology human resources.

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2013-10-04   |   476 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 12 Núm.5. Septiembre-Octubre 2013 Pags. 710-712 Ann Hepatol 2013; 12(5)