Hepatology and the Canadian gastroenterologist: interest, attitudes and patterns of practice: results of a national survey from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.

Background: Hepatology has emerged as a subspecialty distinct from gastroenterology. Despite this, there is no formal certification examination or accredited training program, and training remains combined with gastroenterology.

Aim: To determine attitudes, perceptions and patterns of practice with respect to liver disease among Canadian gastroenterologists.

Methods: A survey questionnaire was distributed to clinician gastroenterologists who are members of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. The responses of subgroups of respondents were compared by univariate and multivariate statistical techniques.

Results: Hepatologists constituted 20 of 201 respondents, the rest identifying themselves as gastroenterologists. Among gastroenterologists, liver disease constituted 10% of in- and out-patient practice. Despite this, 85% of gastroenterologists maintain an interest in hepatology, 49% perform liver biopsies, 60% treat hepatitis C, and 54% treat hepatitis B. In all of these areas, university-based gastroenterologists were consistently less likely than community-based gastroenterologists to maintain an interest and practice in hepatology, a finding that remained statistically significant on multivariate analysis. With regard to hepatology training, 90% of hepatologists and 94% of gastroenterologists felt that hepatology training should remain combined with gastroenterology, although 55% of hepatologists felt that current training was adequate compared with 79% of gastroenterologists, who were satisfied with the status quo.

Conclusions: Hepatology remains relevant and important to Canadian gastroenterologists, especially those who have community-based practices. Canadian gastroenterologists and hepatologists are not in favour of separating hepatology training from existing gastroenterology training programs, although hepatologists feel that the current level of training is suboptimal.