Kontakt 2024, 26(2):174-182 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2024.026

Multiculturalism as a value in healthcare services in the Western BalkansSocial Sciences in Health - Original article

Driton Maljichi¹, Blerim Limani², Bernard Tahirbegolli^{3, 4}, Troy E. Spier⁵, Iliriana Alloqi Tahirbegolli^{6, 7}, Sanja Stojković Zlatanović⁸, Drita Maljichi⁹, Ahmed Kulanić^{10, 11}, Irida Agolli Nasufi¹², Milica Kovač-Orlandić¹³, Gëzim Qerimi^{14, *}

¹ University St. Cyril and Methodius, Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research, Skopje, North Macedonia

² American University of Middle East, Liberal Arts Department, Kuwait City, Kuwait

³ Heimerer College, Department of Health Institutions and Services Management, Prishtina, Kosovo

⁴ National Sports Medicine Centre, Prishtina, Kosovo

⁵ Florida A&M University, English Department, Tallahassee, Florida, USA

⁶ Heimerer College, Laboratory Technician Department, Prishtina, Kosovo

⁷ University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Hematology Clinic, Prishtina, Kosovo

⁸ Institute of Social Sciences, Social Science Department, Belgrade, Serbia

⁹ Pjeter Budi College, Management in Tourism and Hospitality Department, Prishtina, Kosovo

¹⁰ Institute for Bosniak Studies, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

¹¹ Istanbul Ticaret University, Research Center for Neighbouring Countries and Regions, Istanbul, Turkey

¹² University of Tirana, Social Science Department, Tirana, Albania

¹³ University Donja, Podgorica, Montenegro

¹⁴ University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Department of Journalism, Prishtina, Kosovo

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.

Keywords: Balkan; Citizens; Disparities; Healthcare; Multiculturalism; Trust

Conflicts of interest:

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Received: December 5, 2023; Revised: March 11, 2024; Accepted: April 30, 2024; Prepublished online: May 13, 2024; Published: May 31, 2024  Show citation