O14 KELP (Knowledge and education for liver patients) An education and surveillance programme for patients with stable cirrhosis

<h3>Background</h3> The burden of liver disease is ever-increasing in the UK, liver disease deaths have doubled in the last 20 years, and primary liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer deaths in the UK. Having worked as a Specialist Nurse in Hepatology for over 20 years, I am well aware of the increasing number of patients being diagnosed with cirrhosis and wanted to address this issue to benefit both the patient and the service. <h3>Approach</h3> After several in-the-corridor discussions with consultant Hepatologists relating to service improvement for these patients, I concluded that education could be an effective way to address this issue. Our Clinical Lead asked me to formulate a workable plan. I returned with an innovative approach of 18-months programme called KELP-Knowledge and Education for Liver Patients (KELP pathway attached). This idea was met with enthusiasm and encouragement by the wider Hepatology team. KELP is a structured education and surveillance programme for patients with stable cirrhosis, which incorporates knowledge, support, and ongoing management &amp; surveillance of their condition. Through KELP we are able to provide them with knowledge about their life-long condition and encouraging them to make healthier lifestyle choices to prolong their compensated stage of disease. This course provides the usual surveillance investigations with a robust system of communication, and delivers Four comprehensive education sessions relating to their condition, covering; Liver Anatomy and Function, Development and Management of cirrhosis, Understanding of blood tests, Medications used for cirrhosis, Benefits of good nutrition, Introduction to chair-based exercise/yoga. <h3>Outcome</h3> I started the pilot group by delivering their first education session on 17-July-2023, and as of now, the first two KELP groups have attended three education sessions and looking forward to their last session in December 2024. Currently, I have also recruited two further groups into KELP and they will commence their programme in July 2024. The feedback received so far is extremely positive and reflects that we are achieving our aim of producing knowledgeable patients, who are now more confident in opting for healthier lifestyle choices to maintain their stable condition. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The positive response so far suggests that KELP has the potential to effectively manage this continuously increasing patient group whilst providing an enhanced liver service and going forward this programme can be implemented for Stable cirrhosis patients by other Trusts and in other care settings.