Alemany-Pagès, MireiaMoura-Ramos, MarianaAraújo, SaraMacedo, Maria PaulaRibeiro, Rogério T.do Ó, DulceRamalho-Santos, JoãoAzul, Anabela Marisa2020-07-292020-07-292020-07-20PURE: 19251401PURE UUID: 28174622-22e9-4b9d-9b53-eedeb0a67015Scopus: 85088352232PubMed: 32690054WOS: 000553446100012ORCID: /0000-0002-2549-0275/work/151416278http://hdl.handle.net/10362/101728BACKGROUND: It is estimated that around 70% of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients (T2DM) have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Awareness and education are amongst the major shortcomings of the public health response to the increasing threat of NAFLD. Characterizing the specific NAFLD-related information needs of particular high-risk metabolic communities, for instance, T2DM patients, might aid in the development of evidence-based health promotion strategies, ultimately promoting NAFLD-awareness, treatment adherence and therapeutic success rates. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with T2DM patients were conducted to gain insight into their awareness of NAFLD, including its relationship with insulin resistance and T2DM. RESULTS: Awareness of NAFLD as a disease entity, as well as its progression to end-stage liver disease or its relationship with other metabolic conditions, including insulin resistance and T2DM was low. Surveillance behaviours were also suboptimal and perceptions on the self-management knowledge and praxis regarding lifestyle intervention components of T2DM treatment seemed detached from those of NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings could inform the integration of NAFLD-related content in T2DM health promotion strategies. Rising awareness on NAFLD progression and its relationship with T2DM using culturally and community-relevant constructs might facilitate the development of primary and secondary prevention programmes to promote the adherence to lifestyle interventions by influencing NAFLD threat perceptions.1639091engAwarenessEducationKnowledgeNAFLDQualitative researchRisk communicationSelf-managementT2DMPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingjournal article10.1186/s12889-020-09249-5https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85088352232