What is it about?
Advanced liver disease is a common and deadly disease. Patients may not fully understand what to expect as the disease progresses. Although clinicians may feel uncomfortable sharing “bad news” with their patients, we found that patients prefer early and thorough conversations about their disease and its likely course. Patients want to know how liver disease could impact their life expectancy, how the disease could progress, and how it might affect their day-to-day function and capabilities over time.
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Photo by Dominik Lange on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Prognosis information can help liver disease patients prepare for possible changes in their health and functioning. Our findings may encourage clinicians and specialists to incorporate early and detailed prognosis discussions as part of routine advanced liver disease care.
Perspectives
It was so gratifying for me to work on this research project. The project team was amazing, and I am indebted to the wonderful patients who agreed to open up to me about their health issues and what it has been like for them to live with liver disease. I hope this research helps improve the care patients receive.
Jennifer Arney
University of Houston Clear Lake
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Prognosis conversations in advanced liver disease: A qualitative interview study with health professionals and patients, PLoS ONE, February 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263874.
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