The aim of the study was to investigate the attitude towards alcoholism and patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, and to assess the knowledge of pathophysiology and treatment of ascites in liver cirrhosis in the physicians from hospitals in Atlanta and Zagreb. Internists and internal medicine residents were asked to fill-out a questionnaire containing 14 questions on the attitude towards alcoholism and patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, and on the knowledge of ascites pathophysiology and treatment. The study was conducted at University Departments of Medicine at Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital and Zagreb University Hospital Center from Zagreb, Croatia (n=40), and Emory School of Medicine from Atlanta, Georgia, USA (n=30). In the Zagreb group, there were significantly more internists (p=0.025) with significantly more years of specialist service (p=0.006). Significant difference between the two groups was recorded in their answers to questions on alcoholism (p=0.006), correct concept of pathophysiology of ascites formation (p
Cilj studije bio je ispitati stav liječnika prema alkoholičarima i bolesnicima s alkoholnom bolešću jetre, te njihovo znanje o patofiziologiji i liječenju ascitesa u jetrenoj cirozi. Internisti i specijalizanti interne medicine su zamoljeni da ispune upitnik sastavljen od 14 pitanja o stavu prema alkoholizmu i alkoholnoj bolesti jetre, patofiziologiji nastanka ascitesa i njegovom liječenju. Istraživanje je provedeno u Klinikama za unutarnje bolesti Kliničke bolnice "Sestre milosrdnice" i Kliničkog bolničkog centra "Zagreb", Hrvatska (n=40) te Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Sjedinjene Američke Države (n=30). U skupini liječnika iz Zagreba bilo je statistički značajno više internista (p=0,025) i sa značajno dužim specijalističkim stažem (p=0,006). Značajna je bila razlika među skupinama u odgovorima na pitanja što je: alkoholizam (p=0,006), točna patofiziološka teorija nastanka ascitesa (p