{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Barriers to care linkage and educational impact on unnecessary MASLD referrals.
{Author}: Lee JH;Yoon EL;Oh JH;Kim K;Ahn SB;Jun DW;
{Journal}: Front Med (Lausanne)
{Volume}: 11
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024
{Factor}: 5.058
{DOI}: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1407389
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The importance of primary care physicians (PCPs) in managing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an online educational program on MASLD among physicians.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>In total, 869 physicians (72 physicians at referral centers and 797 PCPs) participated in this study. They completed an initial survey regarding their clinical practices for patients with MASLD, followed by a second online survey 8 weeks after receiving a series of seven weekly sets of educational materials on MASLD.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>In the baseline survey, most PCPs did not routinely evaluate the stage of hepatic fibrosis in MASLD; they typically initiated assessments based on elevated liver enzyme levels. Only a limited number of PCPs used vibration-controlled transient elastography. The main hurdles in managing MASLD were "the absence of a fee for patient education" for PCPs and "short consultation time" for referral-center physicians. In the follow-up survey, the percentage of liver fibrosis assessments using noninvasive tests increased from 7.0 to 11.2%. Additionally, evaluations for cardiovascular disease increased from 3.9 to 8.2%, and the risk of ischemic stroke increased from 13.7 to 16.9%. The percentage of immediate referrals of patients to specialists after an MASLD diagnosis decreased from 15.4 to 12.3%.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The discrepancies in management strategies and viewpoints regarding MASLD between PCPs and referral-center physicians can hinder efforts to mitigate the disease burden. Increasing awareness among PCPs regarding MASLD through a 7-week education program led to a reduction in unnecessary referral rates and an increase in cardiovascular evaluations.