Bojaj Gazmend, Spahiu Adem, Bojaj Blerina, Gokdemir Ozden
Department of Health science, Management of institutions and health services, Heimerer College,Pristina,Kosovo.
Department of Health science, Medical Laboratory science, Heimerer College,Pristina,Kosovo.
J Family Med Prim Care. 2025 May;14(5):1992-1999. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1613_24. Epub 2025 May 31.
Violence against healthcare professionals is a major global concern, which is worsened by public health catastrophes like the COVID-19 epidemic. Previous research has shown an increase in verbal, physical, and mental assault directed toward healthcare personnel, driven by causes such as fear, misinformation, and a lack of resources. This cross-sectional study aims to fill this gap by determining the prevalence, types, and contributing factors of violence experienced by healthcare workers in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study with data collected through a structured, anonymous, self-directed questionnaire, consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, and the HADS questionnaire via the online platform in Kosovo in 2020.
The study comprises three main parts: 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 utilized in the three surveys to assess violence against health workers across various domains of health care.
This study indicates that healthcare workers in Kosova are experiencing violence due to COVID-19 pandemics. Given the key role of health care professionals during management of COVID-19 pandemics, interventions to address violence against health workers to the needs of Kosova healthcare professionals presents itself as an immediate need. The wellbeing of healthcare workers has been adversely affected not only by the evolving dynamics in doctor-patient relationships but also by the overall environment of insecurity. It is imperative to denounce all forms of violence, and both healthcare workers and decision-makers must collaboratively and systematically address the issue of violence.
暴力侵害医护人员是一个重大的全球问题，像新冠疫情这样的公共卫生灾难使其更加恶化。先前的研究表明，由于恐惧、错误信息和资源匮乏等原因，针对医护人员的言语、身体和精神攻击有所增加。这项横断面研究旨在通过确定科索沃医护人员在新冠疫情期间遭受暴力的发生率、类型和促成因素来填补这一空白。
该研究采用横断面研究方法，通过结构化、匿名、自主填写的问卷收集数据，问卷包括社会人口学特征以及2020年在科索沃通过在线平台发放的医院焦虑抑郁量表（HADS）问卷。
该研究包括三个主要部分：i）1340名年龄≥18岁的初级卫生保健使用者的代表性样本（男性占49%；总体平均年龄：50.5±17.9岁；回复率：89%），ii）597名初级卫生保健医生的代表性样本（男性占49%；总体平均年龄：46.0±9.4岁；回复率：90%），以及iii）科索沃不同初级卫生保健机构或公共卫生机构中100名决策者的全国代表性样本（男性占63%；平均年龄：47.7±5.7岁）。在这三项调查中使用了一份由37个项目组成的结构化自填问卷，以评估医疗保健各个领域针对卫生工作者的暴力行为。
这项研究表明，科索沃的医护人员正因新冠疫情而遭受暴力。鉴于医护人员在新冠疫情管理中的关键作用，根据科索沃医护人员的需求采取干预措施来解决针对他们的暴力行为已成为当务之急。医护人员的福祉不仅受到医患关系动态变化的不利影响，还受到整体不安全环境的影响。必须谴责所有形式的暴力，医护人员和决策者都必须共同并系统地解决暴力问题。
