@article{3103019,
    title = "A Global Survey of Physicians Knowledge About Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease",
    author = "Younossi, Z.M. and Ong, J.P. and Takahashi, H. and Yilmaz, Y. and Eguc‘hi, Y. and El Kassas, M. and Buti, M. and Diago, M. and Zheng, M.-H. and Fan, J.-G. and Yu, M.-L. and Wai-Sun Wong, V. and Alswat, K. and Chan, W.-K. and Mendez-Sanchez, N. and Burra, P. and Bugianesi, E. and Duseja, A.K. and George, J. and Papatheodoridis, G.V. and Saeed, H. and Castera, L. and Arrese, M. and Kugelmas, M. and Romero-Gomez, M. and Alqahtani, S. and Ziayee, M. and Lam, B. and Younossi, I. and Racila, A. and Henry, L. and Stepanova, M. and Global Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Council",
    journal = "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology",
    year = "2021",
    publisher = "W.B. Saunders",
    issn = "1542-3565, 1542-7714",
    doi = "10.1016/j.cgh.2021.06.048",
    abstract = "Background & Aims: Despite rapidly increasing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence, providers’ knowledge may be limited. We assessed NAFLD knowledge and associated factors among physicians of different specialties globally. Methods: NAFLD knowledge surveys containing 54 and 59 questions covering 3 domains (epidemiology/pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment) were completed electronically by hepatologists, gastroenterologists (GEs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), and primary care physicians (PCPs) from 40 countries comprising 5 Global Burden of Disease super-regions. Over 24 months, 2202 surveys were completed (488 hepatologists, 758 GEs, 148 ENDOs, and 808 PCPs; 50% high-income Global Burden of Disease super-region, 27% from North Africa and Middle East, 12% Southeast Asia, and 5% South Asian and Latin America). Results: Hepatologists saw the greatest number of NAFLD patients annually: median 150 (interquartile range, 60–300) vs 100 (interquartile range, 35–200) for GEs, 100 (interquartile range, 30–200) for ENDOs, and 10 (interquartile range, 4–50) for PCPs (all P <.0001). The primary sources of NAFLD knowledge acquisition for hepatologists were international conferences (33% vs 8%–26%) and practice guidelines for others (39%–44%). The Internet was the second most common source of NAFLD knowledge for PCPs (28%). NAFLD knowledge scores were higher for hepatologists than GEs: epidemiology, 62% vs 53%; diagnostics, 80% vs 73%; and treatment, 61% vs 58% (P <.0001), and ENDOs scores were higher than PCPs: epidemiology, 70% vs 60%; diagnostics, 71% vs 64%; and treatment, 79% vs 68% (P <.0001). Being a hepatologist or ENDO was associated with higher knowledge scores than a GE or PCP, respectively (P <.05). Higher NAFLD knowledge scores were associated independently with a greater number of NAFLD patients seen (P <.05). Conclusions: Despite the growing burden of NAFLD, a significant knowledge gap remains for the identification, diagnosis, and management of NAFLD. © 2021 AGA Institute"
}