A Survey Assessing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Knowledge Among Hepatologists and Non‐Hepatologists in China

ABSTRACT Background and Aim A global increase in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence has been observed in the last decade. This study assesses knowledge, awareness, and clinical practice gaps of hepatologists and non‐hepatologists in NAFLD management across hospitals in China. Methods A web‐based quantitative survey was conducted, and participants included hepatologists (gastroenterologists and infectious disease specialists) and non‐hepatologists (internal medicine specialists, cardiologists, and pharmacists) from various hospitals across China. Results In total, 1627 healthcare practitioners (HCPs) responded to the survey. This included 658 hepatologists and 969 non‐hepatologists. In comparison to 92.6% hepatologists, only 58.0% of non‐hepatologists were aware of NAFLD. A higher proportion of hepatologists (82.8%) performed screening for NAFLD compared to non‐hepatologists (56.9%). Majority of the hepatologists (70%) and non‐hepatologists (67%) were aware of the four primary recommendations for managing NAFLD. Only 11% of hepatologists did not manage NAFLD patients, mainly because they felt they did not have enough time (66.7%). Of the 36% non‐hepatologists who did not manage NAFLD, 78.4% stated that NAFLD is not their specialty, and 38.6% were not familiar with the treatment options. Conclusion Most hepatologists were aware of and agreed to performing screening for NAFLD compared to non‐hepatologists. Both hepatologists and non‐hepatologists exhibited similar level of understanding on NAFLD management. However, a small percentage of both hepatologists and non‐hepatologists admitted that they did not manage NAFLD patients because they were not familiar with available treatment options. This underscores the importance of further educating HCPs involved in managing NAFLD.