To assess the knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers towards assessment of decompensated liver disease patients.

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar from September 2023 to November 2023. Non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used and included. All the patient’s fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were observed during the study period. A preformed excel sheet was used to collect data including age, gender, education level, occupation, duration of illness, duration of treatment, etiology, medications. Patients of both genders from ages 18-84 years with known decompensated chronic liver disease admitted indoor or visited outpatient department during the study period. Frequency and percentages were calculated for quantitative variables and mean ± SD. P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Mean age of the patients was 53.16 (± 12.70) years. Out of 95 patients, 30 (32.70%) were females while 65 (67.30%) were males. Mean duration of Chronic Liver Disease was 5.15 (± 1.85) months. Child Pugh scoring was performed for 26 (27.40%) patients only. 29(90%) of the doctors had knowledge of assessing DCLD patients by using Child Pugh score, 5(15%) were used to calculate CPT score while assessing DCLD patients. Regarding medication, 78% were prescribing inappropriate drugs without any assessment and indications of drugs i.e. rifixamine, beta blockers, proton pump inhibitors, lactulose, antibiotics, ulsanic acid, furosemide, and spironolactone. Frequency of more than 5 drugs prescription was 80%.

Careful assessment and managing decompensated liver disease patients not only slows down the disease progression but can also decrease morbidity and mortality related to decompensated liver disease.