Providing Care for Fatty Liver Disease Patients: Primary Care Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge, Actions, and Preparedness.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease requires primary care providers to serve on the front lines of care for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Knowledge gaps regarding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease exist among primary care physicians, but it is unknown whether primary care nurse practitioners demonstrate similar gaps because they are under-represented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate primary care nurse practitioners' clinical approaches regarding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, their knowledge regarding diagnosis and management, and their preparedness level regarding care for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Adequate knowledge was demonstrated in some, but not all, areas. The knowledge did not necessarily translate into clinical practice behaviors, however. In addition, only 35% of the participants agreed that they felt prepared to care for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Implications are limited by the small sample size but provide some insight into primary care nurse practitioners' preparedness to care for this important epidemic.