Physicians' Use of Digital Health Interventions in the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Jeffrey V Lazarus; Marcela Villota-Rivas; Carolina Jiménez-González; Alvaro Santos-Laso; Paula Iruzubieta; María Teresa Arias-Loste; Lisa Rice-Duek; Simon Leigh; Christopher J Kopka; Juan Turnes; José Luis Calleja; Javier Crespo

doi:10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.021

Physicians' Use of Digital Health Interventions in the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Clin Liver Dis. 2023 May;27(2):515-533. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.021.

Affiliations

¹ Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
³ Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Clinical and Translational Digestive Research Group, IDIVAL, Avenida Valdecilla s/n, 39008, Santander, Spain.
⁴ Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), Berlin, Germany.
⁵ Organization for the Review of Care and Health Applications, Daresbury, UK; Institute of Digital Healthcare, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
⁶ Independent Researcher, Salida, CO, USA.
⁷ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Pontevedra & IIS Galicia Sur, Spain.
⁸ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro de Majadahonda, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

PMID: 37024221
DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.021

Abstract

Globally, the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) is expanding, along with growing scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Given the high and increasing prevalence of noncommunicable liver disease, we surveyed 295 physicians across Spain about their knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, practices, and access with regard to DHIs for patient care and in particular for liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Physicians reported high familiarity with DHIs, although most had not recommended them in patient care. Addressing concerns, including limited available time, evidence of effectiveness, education, training, and access may contribute to an increased uptake of these technologies.

Keywords: Digital health interventions; Hepatology; Liver disease; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); Spain.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Life Style
Liver
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / epidemiology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / therapy
Physicians*
Prevalence