Clinical Decision-Making for Appendectomy in Kosovo: A Conjoint Analysis

Ilir Hoxha, Bajram Duraj, Shefki Xharra (), Afrim Avdaj, Valon Beqiri, Krenare Grezda, Erza Selmani, Blerta Avdiu, Jakob Cegllar, Dorjan Marušič and Aferdita Osmani
Additional contact information
Ilir Hoxha: The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
Bajram Duraj: General Hospital of Prizren, 20000 Prizren, Kosovo
Shefki Xharra: General Hospital of Prizren, 20000 Prizren, Kosovo
Afrim Avdaj: General Hospital of Prizren, 20000 Prizren, Kosovo
Valon Beqiri: The Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Krenare Grezda: Evidence Synthesis Group, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Erza Selmani: Evidence Synthesis Group, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Blerta Avdiu: Lux Development, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Jakob Cegllar: Lux Development, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Dorjan Marušič: Lux Development, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Aferdita Osmani: Lux Development, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-8

Abstract: Objective : The objective was to investigate the association of clinical attributes with decision making for performing appendectomy and making preoperative preparations for appendectomy. Method: A conjoint analysis with 17 clinical scenarios was executed with surgeons employed at public hospitals in Kosovo. Setting: The study was conducted at two public hospitals in Kosovo that have benefited from quality-improvement interventions. Participants: The participants included 22 surgeons. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the overall effect of clinical attributes on the decision to perform appendectomy and make the preoperative preparations for appendectomy. Results : In the regression analyses, several attributes demonstrated statistically significant effects on the clinical decision to perform appendectomy and on the practice of preoperative preparation. Conclusions: We found that several factors influenced the decision to perform appendectomy and the practices for preoperative preparation. Nevertheless, the small sample size limited our efforts to interpret the results. These findings could assist Kosovo in the design and implementation of future similar studies and in fostering quality improvement measures that address clinical decision making and the lack of process standardization in the delivery of surgical care.

Keywords: appendectomy; preoperative care; conjoint analysis; low and middle income; healthcare reform; evidence-based practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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