P0997 - Certified Medical Education Helped to Close Gaps in the Management of Patients With NAFLD/NASH

Briana Betz, PhD¹, Erin Jones, BS¹, Shari Dermer, PhD^2
1Medscape Education, Newark, NJ; ²Medscape Education, Lititz, PA

Introduction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are the most common causes of chronic liver disease. The objective of this study was to assess baseline and post-education knowledge, competence, and confidence on the management of NAFLD/NASH from continuing medical education (CME) activities.

Methods: Gastroenterologists (N=743 to 1464) participated in at least 1 of 2 online activities on NAFLD/NASH that featured video with synchronized slides.[1,2] For each activity, educational effect was assessed with a repeated pairs pre-/post-assessment study including a 3-item, multiple choice, knowledge/competence questionnaire and one confidence assessment question. Absolute improvement (post%-pre%) was calculated to examine change in percentage of correct responses. The chi-squared test was used for significance testing on the number of correct responses pre- to post-activity with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Activities launched July 29, 2022 and September 12, 2022, and data were collected June 2, 2023.

Results: Prevalence and Consequences of NASH:

• 23% increase in knowledge regarding the global prevalence of NAFLD (45% pre/68% post; P < .05)


• 10% increase in knowledge regarding cardiovascular disease as the greatest risk of death in patients with NASH (52% pre/62% post; P < .05)

Risk Evaluation/Stratification:

• 13% increase in competence regarding the use of FIB-4 as the first step in assessing risk for liver fibrosis in a patient with multiple risk factors (59% pre/72% post; P < .05)


• 13% increase in those who reported being mostly/very confident in determining which patients should undergo evaluation for NAFLD/NASH following education (33% pre/46% post; P < .05)

Noninvasive Tests:

• 16% increase in knowledge about the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test following education (42% pre/58% post; P < .05)


• < 2% increase competence among learners regarding using transient elastrography to evaluate a patient with a FIB-4 score of 2.2 and NAFLD (P = NS)


• 12% increase in learners who reported being mostly/very confident in using evidence-based testing to risk stratify patients with NAFLD/NASH (24% pre/36% post; P < .05)

Discussion: These results indicate baseline gaps in knowledge and competence, as well as low confidence related to identification and evaluation of patients with risk of NAFLD/NASH. Although participation in CME led to improvement, additional education is warranted.


Disclosures:


Briana Betz, PhD¹, Erin Jones, BS¹, Shari Dermer, PhD². P0997 - Certified Medical Education Helped to Close Gaps in the Management of Patients With NAFLD/NASH, ACG 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Vancouver, BC, Canada: American College of Gastroenterology.