Multiculturalism as a value in healthcare services in the Western Balkans

Maljichi, Driton and Blerim, Limani and Tahirbegolli, Bernard and Tahirbegolli Alloqi, Iliriana and Stojković-Zlatanović, Sanja and Maljichi, Drita and Kulanić, Ahmed and Nasufi Agoli, Irida and Kovač-Orlandić, Milica and Qerimi, Gezim (2024) Multiculturalism as a value in healthcare services in the Western Balkans. Kontakt / Journal of nursing and social sciences related to health and illness. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1212-4117

Text Knt_001304_fin-0002.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (182kB)

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to examine the healthcare preferences and perspectives of citizens in the Western Balkans (namely Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as their trust toward medical professionals of various genders and ages. Almost 4,000 citizens (N = 3,789) of six countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) were surveyed using a self-reported questionnaire in this inter-country cross-sectional study. Most of the participants state that their ethnicity (86%) or religion (89%) has no effect on receiving services in healthcare institutions when the doctor is from a different ethnicity or religion (p < 0.05). One-third of the study’s participants stated that they don’t necessarily prefer to be treated by medical doctors who approach all patients of different nationalities equally. Finally, this article demonstrates that the majority of Balkan citizens had no disparities when receiving medical care from a medical doctor of a different ethnicity or religion. About one-third of the research participants nurture tolerance and diversity as a behavior culture and do not want to be treated by a doctor who discriminates against patients of different nationalities

Actions (login required)

View Item