Gazmend Bojaj | State University of Tirana (original) (raw)
Papers by Gazmend Bojaj
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Feb 10, 2023
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVI... more This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing aspects such as management of patient flow, infection prevention and control, information processing, communication and collaboration. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected through the online PRICOV-19 questionnaire sent to general practices in 38 countries. Rural practices in our sample were smaller than urban-based practices. They reported an above-average number of old and multimorbid patients and a below-average number of patients with a migrant background or financial problems. Rural practices were less likely to provide leaflets and information, but were more likely to have ceased using the waiting room or to have made structural changes to their waiting room and to have changed their prescribing practices in terms of patients attending the practices. They were less likely to perform video consultations or use electronic prescription methods...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable deli... more Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable delivering services in environments where the danger of infection of healthcare personnel and patients in primary care (PC) institutions is elevated, i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine patient safety and healthcare service management in PHC practices in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire among 77 PHC practices. Results: Our main finding reveals a safer organization of PC practices and services since the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous period before the pandemic. The study also shows a collaboration between PC practices in the close neighborhood and more proper human resource management due to COVID-19 suspicion or infection. Over 80% of the participating PC practices felt the need to introduce changes to the structure of their practice. Regardin...
MDPI, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
BACKGROUND: Skills and competencies of family physicians are a basic prerequisite for high-qualit... more BACKGROUND: Skills and competencies of family physicians are a basic prerequisite for high-quality primary health care services. The aim of this survey was to assess urban-rural differences in the level of competencies of family physicians from patients’ perspective in transitional Kosovo.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2013 involving a nationwide sample of 1340 primary health care users aged ≥18 years (49% males and 51% females; overall age: 50.5±17.9 years; response rate: 89%). Patients were asked to rate the level of competencies of their family physicians regarding different domains of health services. The self-administered questionnaire included 37 items. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from one (“novice” physicians) to five (“expert” physicians). An overall summary score on the level of competencies of family physicians was calculated [range: from 37 (minimal competencies) to 185 (maximal competencies)]. Demographic and socioeconomic inform...
Science Progress and Research, 2021
In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case... more In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case in Kosovo, a 22-year-old woman who came from abroad. COVID-19 has become a major threat to the health of the youngest population in Europe. We also considered the efficacy of restrictive measures, such as lockdowns, in Kosovo.
The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through ... more The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through medical informatics provides us with easier access to the delivery of health services. Methods: Introducing the delivery of health services through the digital system is done quickly and in a timely manner. Also the benefits gained from this access are numerous such as: Access, Availability, Transfer and Retrieval, Better organization by imposing structure, Automated checks on data entry. This is achieved through quality improvement within primary health care, images, image management, medical errors, card technologies, frequent use of computers. Results: From the perspective of patients there is a rise in the level of services after using medical informatics in primary health care, services are faster, easier access, patient data is stored in databases, we have 24 hour uninterrupted access, multimedia, promotion online health, social media communication.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Materia socio-medica, 2016
The aim of this analysis was to compare the level of self-perceived competencies of primary healt... more The aim of this analysis was to compare the level of self-perceived competencies of primary health care physicians in Kosovo with patients' viewpoint, as well as the necessary (required) level of such competencies from decision-makers' standpoint. Three cross-sectional studies were carried out in Kosovo in 2013 including: i) a representative sample of 1340 primary health care users aged ≥18 years (49% men; overall mean age: 50.5±17.9 years; response rate: 89%); ii) a representative sample of 597 primary health care physicians (49% men; overall mean age: 46.0±9.4 years; response rate: 90%), and; iii) a nationwide representative sample of 100 decision-makers operating at different primary health care institutions or public health agencies in Kosovo (63% men; mean age: 47.7±5.7 years). A structured self-administered questionnaire (consisting of 37 items) was used in the three surveys in order to assess physicians' competencies regarding different domains of the quality of h...
In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case... more In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case in Kosovo, a 22-year-old woman who came from abroad. COVID-19 has become a major threat to the health of the youngest population in Europe. We also considered the efficacy of restrictive measures, such as lockdowns, in Kosovo.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of skills, abilities and competencies of famil... more Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of skills, abilities and competencies of family physicians from primary health care users perspective in Kosovo, a post-war country in the Western Balkans. Methods: In this article we report the preliminary results of a nationwide cross-sectional study, conducted in Kosovo in January-June 2013, including a representative sample of 601 primary health care users aged >18 years (301 males and 300 females; mean age: 49.1±17.7 years). All participantswere asked to assess the level of abilities, skills and competencies of their respective family physicians regarding different domains of the quality of health care. Overall, the questionnaire included 37 items organized into six domains. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from1 ( novice physicians) to 5 ( expert physicians). An overall summary score (including 37 items; range: 37-185) and a subscale summary score for each domain were calculated. Demographic and socioeconom...
3 Depart ment of International Health, School for Public Healt h and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Facul... more 3 Depart ment of International Health, School for Public Healt h and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maast richt Universit y, Maast richt, The Net herlands. Competencies in quality improvement are important for family physicians in order to foster patient care. In Kosovo, we validated an instrument developed with the support of the EC Lifelong Learning Program addressing family physicians competency level from the primary health care users perspective. The instrument was administered to a representative sample of primary health care users in Kosovo aged e 18 years in December 2012. All individuals included in this validation exercise were asked to assess, from their perspective, the level of competency of their respective family physicians, or general practitioners regarding several key domains of primary health care services including: patient care and safety (8 questions), effectiveness and efficiency (7 questions), equity and ethical practice...
Aim: Family physicians and general practitioners are currently facing increasing demands to meet ... more Aim: Family physicians and general practitioners are currently facing increasing demands to meet patients’ expectations and rapid technological and scientific developments. The aim of this study was to determine the self-perceived level of competencies of primary health care physicians in Kosovo, a post-war country in the Western Balkans. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2013 including a representative sample of 597 primary health care physicians (295 men and 302 women; mean age: 46.0±9.4 years; response rate: 90%). A structured self-administered questionnaire was used in order to determine physicians’ competencies regarding different domains of the quality of health care. The questionnaire included 37 items organized into six subscales/domains. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from 1 (“novice” physicians) to 5 (“expert” physicians). An overall summary score (range: 37-185) and a subscale summary score for each domain were calculated for each parti...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Feb 10, 2023
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVI... more This paper explores the differences between rural and urban practices in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing aspects such as management of patient flow, infection prevention and control, information processing, communication and collaboration. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected through the online PRICOV-19 questionnaire sent to general practices in 38 countries. Rural practices in our sample were smaller than urban-based practices. They reported an above-average number of old and multimorbid patients and a below-average number of patients with a migrant background or financial problems. Rural practices were less likely to provide leaflets and information, but were more likely to have ceased using the waiting room or to have made structural changes to their waiting room and to have changed their prescribing practices in terms of patients attending the practices. They were less likely to perform video consultations or use electronic prescription methods...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable deli... more Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable delivering services in environments where the danger of infection of healthcare personnel and patients in primary care (PC) institutions is elevated, i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine patient safety and healthcare service management in PHC practices in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire among 77 PHC practices. Results: Our main finding reveals a safer organization of PC practices and services since the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous period before the pandemic. The study also shows a collaboration between PC practices in the close neighborhood and more proper human resource management due to COVID-19 suspicion or infection. Over 80% of the participating PC practices felt the need to introduce changes to the structure of their practice. Regardin...
MDPI, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
BACKGROUND: Skills and competencies of family physicians are a basic prerequisite for high-qualit... more BACKGROUND: Skills and competencies of family physicians are a basic prerequisite for high-quality primary health care services. The aim of this survey was to assess urban-rural differences in the level of competencies of family physicians from patients’ perspective in transitional Kosovo.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2013 involving a nationwide sample of 1340 primary health care users aged ≥18 years (49% males and 51% females; overall age: 50.5±17.9 years; response rate: 89%). Patients were asked to rate the level of competencies of their family physicians regarding different domains of health services. The self-administered questionnaire included 37 items. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from one (“novice” physicians) to five (“expert” physicians). An overall summary score on the level of competencies of family physicians was calculated [range: from 37 (minimal competencies) to 185 (maximal competencies)]. Demographic and socioeconomic inform...
Science Progress and Research, 2021
In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case... more In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case in Kosovo, a 22-year-old woman who came from abroad. COVID-19 has become a major threat to the health of the youngest population in Europe. We also considered the efficacy of restrictive measures, such as lockdowns, in Kosovo.
The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through ... more The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through medical informatics provides us with easier access to the delivery of health services. Methods: Introducing the delivery of health services through the digital system is done quickly and in a timely manner. Also the benefits gained from this access are numerous such as: Access, Availability, Transfer and Retrieval, Better organization by imposing structure, Automated checks on data entry. This is achieved through quality improvement within primary health care, images, image management, medical errors, card technologies, frequent use of computers. Results: From the perspective of patients there is a rise in the level of services after using medical informatics in primary health care, services are faster, easier access, patient data is stored in databases, we have 24 hour uninterrupted access, multimedia, promotion online health, social media communication.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Materia socio-medica, 2016
The aim of this analysis was to compare the level of self-perceived competencies of primary healt... more The aim of this analysis was to compare the level of self-perceived competencies of primary health care physicians in Kosovo with patients' viewpoint, as well as the necessary (required) level of such competencies from decision-makers' standpoint. Three cross-sectional studies were carried out in Kosovo in 2013 including: i) a representative sample of 1340 primary health care users aged ≥18 years (49% men; overall mean age: 50.5±17.9 years; response rate: 89%); ii) a representative sample of 597 primary health care physicians (49% men; overall mean age: 46.0±9.4 years; response rate: 90%), and; iii) a nationwide representative sample of 100 decision-makers operating at different primary health care institutions or public health agencies in Kosovo (63% men; mean age: 47.7±5.7 years). A structured self-administered questionnaire (consisting of 37 items) was used in the three surveys in order to assess physicians' competencies regarding different domains of the quality of h...
In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case... more In the view of the first anniversary of COVID-19, this article focuses on the first COVID-19 case in Kosovo, a 22-year-old woman who came from abroad. COVID-19 has become a major threat to the health of the youngest population in Europe. We also considered the efficacy of restrictive measures, such as lockdowns, in Kosovo.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of skills, abilities and competencies of famil... more Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of skills, abilities and competencies of family physicians from primary health care users perspective in Kosovo, a post-war country in the Western Balkans. Methods: In this article we report the preliminary results of a nationwide cross-sectional study, conducted in Kosovo in January-June 2013, including a representative sample of 601 primary health care users aged >18 years (301 males and 300 females; mean age: 49.1±17.7 years). All participantswere asked to assess the level of abilities, skills and competencies of their respective family physicians regarding different domains of the quality of health care. Overall, the questionnaire included 37 items organized into six domains. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from1 ( novice physicians) to 5 ( expert physicians). An overall summary score (including 37 items; range: 37-185) and a subscale summary score for each domain were calculated. Demographic and socioeconom...
3 Depart ment of International Health, School for Public Healt h and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Facul... more 3 Depart ment of International Health, School for Public Healt h and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maast richt Universit y, Maast richt, The Net herlands. Competencies in quality improvement are important for family physicians in order to foster patient care. In Kosovo, we validated an instrument developed with the support of the EC Lifelong Learning Program addressing family physicians competency level from the primary health care users perspective. The instrument was administered to a representative sample of primary health care users in Kosovo aged e 18 years in December 2012. All individuals included in this validation exercise were asked to assess, from their perspective, the level of competency of their respective family physicians, or general practitioners regarding several key domains of primary health care services including: patient care and safety (8 questions), effectiveness and efficiency (7 questions), equity and ethical practice...
Aim: Family physicians and general practitioners are currently facing increasing demands to meet ... more Aim: Family physicians and general practitioners are currently facing increasing demands to meet patients’ expectations and rapid technological and scientific developments. The aim of this study was to determine the self-perceived level of competencies of primary health care physicians in Kosovo, a post-war country in the Western Balkans. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2013 including a representative sample of 597 primary health care physicians (295 men and 302 women; mean age: 46.0±9.4 years; response rate: 90%). A structured self-administered questionnaire was used in order to determine physicians’ competencies regarding different domains of the quality of health care. The questionnaire included 37 items organized into six subscales/domains. Answers for each item of the tool ranged from 1 (“novice” physicians) to 5 (“expert” physicians). An overall summary score (range: 37-185) and a subscale summary score for each domain were calculated for each parti...
10. International Trakya Family Medicine Congress, 2021
The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through ... more The relationship between the patient and the healthcare providers in primary health care through medical informatics provides us with easier access to the delivery of health services. Methods: Introducing the delivery of health services through the digital system is done quickly and in a timely manner. Also the benefits gained from this access are numerous such as: Access, Availability, Transfer and Retrieval, Better organization by imposing structure, Automated checks on data entry. This is achieved through quality improvement within primary health care, images, image management, medical errors, card technologies, frequent use of computers. Results: From the perspective of patients there is a rise in the level of services after using medical informatics in primary health care, services are faster, easier access, patient data is stored in databases, we have 24 hour uninterrupted access, multimedia, promotion online health, social media communication.