Wu LJ, Zhang F, Luo YW, Tang FS. Health economic impact of targeted physician training in optimizing Helicobacter pylori therapy. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(35): 119013 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.119013]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Fu-Shan Tang, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6 Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China. fstang@vip.163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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editorial
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Wu LJ, Zhang F, Luo YW, Tang FS. Health economic impact of targeted physician training in optimizing Helicobacter pylori therapy. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(35): 119013 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.119013]
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2026; 32(35): 119013 Published online Sep 21, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.119013
Health economic impact of targeted physician training in optimizing Helicobacter pylori therapy
Lin-Jie Wu, Feng Zhang, Yu-Wei Luo, Fu-Shan Tang
Lin-Jie Wu, Feng Zhang, Yu-Wei Luo, Fu-Shan Tang, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China
Author contributions: Wu LJ drafted and revised the manuscript; Zhang F and Luo YW provided discussion and literature support; Tang FS contributed to idea generation, revised the manuscript, and provided supervision; all authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: AI tools were used only for language polishing, grammar checking, spelling correction, and minor paraphrasing to improve readability and academic expression. No AI tools were used to generate research ideas, design the study, collect or analyze data, draw scientific conclusions, or produce any core academic content. All study design, critical analysis, data interpretation, and final writing are the original work of the authors. We take full responsibility for the academic integrity and accuracy of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Fu-Shan Tang, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6 Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China. fstang@vip.163.com
Received: January 19, 2026 Revised: February 9, 2026 Accepted: March 27, 2026 Published online: September 21, 2026 Processing time: 215 Days and 1.1 Hours
Abstract
The management of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has long faced the challenge of a significant gap between clinical practice and guideline recommendations, with physician knowledge and behavior being key factors contributing to this disparity. However, while new drugs and extended treatment regimens continue to emerge, there remains a lack of quantifiable evidence on the real-world efficacy of one-time, low-cost, replicable standardized training. This issue features a prospective before-and-after interventional study by Duan et al published in World Journal of Gastroenterology, which systematically evaluates the direct impact of a single standardized training session on the H. pylori eradication efficacy of gastroenterologists. It provides new insights and evidence to address the disconnect between guidelines and practice. The rigorously designed study demonstrated significant improvements in eradication rates, treatment protocol standardization, and patient follow-up rates following training. These effects were particularly pronounced among less experienced physicians with historically lower success rates. Notably, while primarily focusing on behavioral intervention, the training reduced treatment failures by approximately 13 cases per 100 patients [based on intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis estimates], providing directly applicable data for value-based healthcare and medical insurance cost control. However, the study also revealed practical challenges, including unchanged adverse reaction reporting rates and limited effectiveness of single-session training, suggesting room for improvement in the depth, continuity, and personalization of current physician continuing education. This paper will further deconstruct the key elements of training design, aiming to: (1) Contextualize the findings of the referenced study within the current clinical landscape; (2) Critically analyze its mechanisms and methodological limitations; and (3) Extrapolate implications for future practice and policy. This study not only provides evidence for clinical quality improvement but also offers insights from a health economics perspective: Investing in standardized continuing education for physicians represents a high-leverage health intervention strategy.
Core Tip: This article discusses a recent prospective study that highlights the impact of standardized, one-time physician education on improving Helicobacter pylori eradication rates in clinical practice. The findings suggest that investing in such educational interventions holds greater potential economic value than relying solely on new drug developments. We delve into the reasons behind the success of this educational approach and acknowledge its limitations, proposing future research directions, such as artificial intelligence-driven feedback loops. We call on policymakers to prioritize physician education at the same level as new drug procurement, emphasizing its crucial role in bridging the gap between guidelines and real-world practice.
