A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Role of Nurses in Prevention and Control of Liver Disease
Authors: Sharma, Suresh K.; Mudgal, Shiv K.; Davidson, Patricia M.; Leino-Kilpi, Helena
Editors: Ajeet Singh Bhadoria, Samiran Nundy
Publisher: CRC Press
Publication year: 2025
Book title : Preventive Hepatology
Journal name in source: Preventive Hepatology
First page : 205
Last page: 216
ISBN: 978-1-03-255959-9
eISBN: 978-1-00-343307-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003433071-15
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003433071-15
Abstract
The multifaceted role of nurses in preventing and controlling liver disease is crucial in promoting public health and decreasing morbidity and mortality globally. Liver diseases are a significant health concern, accounting for an annual toll of 2 million fatalities and contributing to 4% of global mortality, equivalent to 1 out of every 25 deaths. The primary drivers of mortality are complications arising from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with acute hepatitis contributing to a smaller fraction of deaths. The foremost culprits of cirrhosis on a global scale encompass viral hepatitis, alcohol-related effects, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This chapter describes the role of nurses in the prevention and control of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. Nurses contribute to primary prevention by educating individuals and communities about risk factors, promoting healthy behaviors, and facilitating early detection and intervention. They emphasize health promotion and education, including the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, responsible alcohol consumption, regular exercise, and safe sex practices. Nurses also play a vital role in vaccination programs for liver diseases and encourage individuals to maintain a healthy body weight. In secondary prevention, nurses conduct screenings, implement infection control measures, and provide medication management to detect and manage liver diseases at early stages. Last, in tertiary prevention, nurses focus on symptom management, monitoring and managing complications, patient education, care coordination, psychosocial support, and end-of-life care for individuals with advanced liver disease.
The multifaceted role of nurses in preventing and controlling liver disease is crucial in promoting public health and decreasing morbidity and mortality globally. Liver diseases are a significant health concern, accounting for an annual toll of 2 million fatalities and contributing to 4% of global mortality, equivalent to 1 out of every 25 deaths. The primary drivers of mortality are complications arising from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with acute hepatitis contributing to a smaller fraction of deaths. The foremost culprits of cirrhosis on a global scale encompass viral hepatitis, alcohol-related effects, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This chapter describes the role of nurses in the prevention and control of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. Nurses contribute to primary prevention by educating individuals and communities about risk factors, promoting healthy behaviors, and facilitating early detection and intervention. They emphasize health promotion and education, including the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, responsible alcohol consumption, regular exercise, and safe sex practices. Nurses also play a vital role in vaccination programs for liver diseases and encourage individuals to maintain a healthy body weight. In secondary prevention, nurses conduct screenings, implement infection control measures, and provide medication management to detect and manage liver diseases at early stages. Last, in tertiary prevention, nurses focus on symptom management, monitoring and managing complications, patient education, care coordination, psychosocial support, and end-of-life care for individuals with advanced liver disease.
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