The Attitudes and Practices Regarding COVID-19 among General Practitioners from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Study Participants
2.2. Measures
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Study Participants
3.2. Attitudes toward COVID-19 Prevention and Control and the Influence of the Pandemic on Healthcare Workers
3.3. Practices Regarding COVID-19 Prevention and Control
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | Croatia N (%) | Bosnia and Herzegovina N (%) | p * |
---|---|---|---|
Age group (years) | |||
Younger (45 years or less) | 51 (51.0) | 59 (59.0) | 0.256 |
Older (46 years or more) | 49 (49.0) | 41 (41.0) | |
Gender | |||
Male | 18 (18.0) | 33 (33.0) | 0.023 |
Female | 82 (82.0) | 67 (67.0) | |
Marital status | |||
With a partner | 55 (55.0) | 73 (73.0) | 0.012 |
Single | 45 (45.0) | 27 (27.0) | |
Place of family medicine practice | |||
County or cantonal center | 50 (50.0) | 40 (40.0) | <0.001 |
Other cities in the county or canton | 31 (31.0) | 56 (56.0) | |
Villages or suburban settlements | 19 (19.0) | 4 (4.0) | |
Education | |||
Doctors with a license for independent practice without finished specialization | 57 (57.0) | 54 (54.0) | 0.776 |
Specialist in family medicine | 43 (43.0) | 46 (46.0) | |
Length of service (years) | |||
0–14 years | 48 (48.0) | 56 (56.0) | 0.258 |
15 or more years | 52 (52.0) | 44 (44.0) | |
Type of practice | |||
An employee of a health center | 50 (50.0) | 100 (100.0) | <0.001 |
Concession or a private practice | 50 (50.0) | 0 |
Characteristics | Croatia N (%) | Bosnia and Herzegovina N (%) | p |
---|---|---|---|
The GP or his/her family member living in the same household had COVID-19. | |||
Yes | 57 (57.0) | 83 (83.0) | <0.001 * |
No | 43 (43.0) | 17 (17.0) | |
The GP finished formal education on the prevention of infectious diseases and occupational safety. | |||
Yes | 46 (46.0) | 43 (43.0) | 0.776 * |
No | 54 (54.0) | 57 (57.0) | |
The GP finished formal education on adequate hand hygiene. | |||
Yes | 37 (37.0) | 41 (41.0) | 0.664 * |
No | 63 (63.0) | 59 (59.0) | |
In the GP’s place of work, there was an official protocol regarding protection from COVID-19 in family medicine. | |||
Yes | 99 (99.0) | 94 (94.0) | 0.118 † |
No | 1 (1.0) | 6 (6.0) | |
The GP finished formal education on COVID-19 prevention for GPs. | |||
Yes | 42 (42.0) | 38 (38.0) | 0.665 * |
No | 58 (58.0) | 62 (62.0) |
Statements | Strongly Agree N (%) | Agree N (%) | Neither Agree nor Disagree N (%) | Disagree N (%) | Strongly Disagree N (%) | p |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The usage of PPE prevents COVID-19 among healthcare workers. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 30 (30.0) | 57 (57.0) | 10 (10.0) | 1 (1.0) | 2 (2.0) | 0.218 † |
Bosnian GPs | 22 (22.0) | 55 (55.0) | 12 (12.0) | 4 (4.0) | 7 (7.0) | |
The usage of PPE prevents COVID-19 in patients. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 29 (29.0) | 58 (58.0) | 9 (9.0) | 3 (3.0) | 1 (1.0) | <0.001 † |
Bosnian GPs | 18 (18.0) | 23 (23.0) | 27 (27.0) | 28 (28.0) | 4 (4.0) | |
GPs should treat COVID-19 patients. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 42 (42.0) | 41 (41.0) | 9 (9.0) | 7 (7.0) | 1 (1.0) | 0.202 † |
Bosnian GPs | 43 (43.0) | 50 (50.0) | 3 (3.0) | 4 (4.0) | 0 | |
GPs are sufficiently educated for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 13 (13.0) | 46 (46.0) | 23 (23.0) | 16 (16.0) | 2 (2.0) | 0.235 † |
Bosnian GPs | 22 (22.0) | 38 (38.0) | 18 (18.0) | 16 (16.0) | 6 (6.0) | |
GPs’ offices are sufficiently equipped with protective equipment for work during the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 5 (5.0) | 31 (31.0) | 27 (27.0) | 26 (26.0) | 11 (11.0) | 0.163 * |
Bosnian GPs | 8 (8.0) | 41 (41.0) | 15 (15.0) | 29 (29.0) | 7 (7.0) | |
The COVID-19 pandemic will increase the level of stress among GPs. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 66 (66.0) | 31 (31.0) | 3 (3.0) | 0 | 0 | 0.006 † |
Bosnian GPs | 46 (46.0) | 47 (47.0) | 2 (2.0) | 4 (4.0) | 1 (1.0) | |
My country is successful in the containment of the spread of COVID-19. | ||||||
Croatian GPs | 3 (3.0) | 46 (46.0) | 34 (34.0) | 14 (14.0) | 3 (3.0) | 0.005 † |
Bosnian GPs | 1 (1.0) | 34 (34.0) | 26 (26.0) | 36 (36.0) | 3 (3.0) |
Factors | Croatian GPs | Bosnian GPs | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (Standard Deviation) | p | Mean (Standard Deviation) | p | |
Sociodemographic and employment characteristics | ||||
Age group | ||||
Younger (45 years or less) | 4.84 (1.362) | 0.313 * | 4.20 (1.243) | 0.007 * |
Older (46 years or more) | 5.12 (1.438) | 4.88 (1.487) | ||
Gender | ||||
Male | 5.33 (1.138) | 0.251 * | 4.91 (1.355) | 0.027 * |
Female | 4.90 (1.445) | 4.27 (1.355) | ||
Marital status | ||||
With a partner | 4.80 (1.458) | 0.155 * | 4.62 (1.440) | 0.086 * |
Single | 5.20 (1.307) | 4.11 (1.155) | ||
Place of family medicine practice | ||||
County or cantonal center | 5.02 (1.270) | 0.441 † | 4.68 (1.309) | 0.451 † |
Other cities in the county or canton | 4.71 (1.716) | 4.38 (1.459) | ||
Villages or suburban settlements | 5.32 (1.108) | 4.00 (0.816) | ||
Education | ||||
Doctors with a license for independent practice without having finished specialization | 4.96 (1.426) | 0.915 * | 4.26 (1.306) | 0.060 * |
Specialist in family medicine | 5.00 (1.380) | 4.74 (1.437) | ||
Length of service | ||||
0–14 years | 4.83 (1.389) | 0.318 * | 4.18 (1.281) | 0.006 * |
15 or more years | 5.12 (1.409) | 4.86 (1.424) | ||
Type of practice | ||||
An employee of a health center | 5.22 (1.314) | 0.098 * | 4.48 (1.382) | NA |
Concession or a private practice | 4.74 (1.454) | 0 | ||
The exposure of GPs to COVID-19 and their education regarding the preventative measures of coronavirus infection | ||||
The GP or his/her family member living in the same household had COVID-19 | ||||
Yes | 4.88 (1.324) | 0.307 * | 4.58 (1.354) | 0.101 * |
No | 5.12 (1.499) | 4.00 (1.458) | ||
The GP finished formal education on the prevention of infectious diseases and occupational safety | ||||
Yes | 5.33 (1.248) | 0.019 * | 5.16 (1.233) | <0.001 * |
No | 4.69 (1.464) | 3.96 (1.267) | ||
The GP finished formal education on adequate hand hygiene | ||||
Yes | 4.92 (1.256) | 0.594 * | 5.15 (1.085) | <0.001 * |
No | 5.02 (1.486) | 4.02 (1.383) | ||
In the GP’s place of work, there was an official protocol regarding protection from COVID-19 in family medicine | ||||
Yes | 4.96 (1.392) | 0.142 * | 4.50 (1.318) | 0.830 * |
No | 7.00 (0.000) | 4.17 (2.317) | ||
The GP finished formal education on COVID-19 prevention for GPs | ||||
Yes | 5.02 (1.316) | 0.844 * | 5.00 (1.273) | 0.002 * |
No | 4.95 (1.468) | 4.16 (1.357) |
Practice | Croatia N (%) | Bosnia and Herzegovina N (%) | p |
---|---|---|---|
During the restrictive epidemiological measures in my country, I always wore a protective facial mask when I needed to do some things outside of my home or my office (for example shopping for groceries). | |||
Yes | 98 (98.0) | 95 (95.0) | 0.445 † |
No | 2 (2.0) | 5 (5.0) | |
During the restrictive epidemiological measures in my country, I always used all available PPE during working with patients in my office. | |||
Yes | 84 (84.0) | 84 (84.0) | >0.999 * |
No | 16 (16.0) | 16 (16.0) | |
During the non-restrictive epidemiological measures in my country, I always wore a protective facial mask when I needed to do some things outside of my home or my office (for example shopping for groceries). | |||
Yes | 97 (97.0) | 77 (77.0) | <0.001 * |
No | 3 (3.0) | 23 (23.0) | |
During the non-restrictive epidemiological measures in my country, I always used all available PPE during working with patients in my office. | |||
Yes | 72 (72.0) | 71 (71.0) | >0.999 * |
No | 28 (28.0) | 29 (29.0) |
Factors | Croatian GPs | Bosnian GPs | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (Standard Deviation) | p | Mean (Standard Deviation) | p | |
Sociodemographic and employment characteristics | ||||
Age group | ||||
Younger (45 years or less) | 3.31 (0.883) | 0.009 * | 3.17 (1.003) | 0.138 * |
Older (46 years or more) | 3.71 (0.612) | 3.41 (0.974) | ||
Gender | ||||
Male | 3.00 (0.970) | 0.003 * | 3.27 (0.977) | 0.865 * |
Female | 3.62 (0.696) | 3.27 (1.009) | ||
Marital status | ||||
With a partner | 3.71 (0.533) | 0.022 * | 3.27 (1.031) | 0.721 * |
Single | 3.27 (0.963) | 3.26 (0.903) | ||
Place of family medicine practice | ||||
County or cantonal center | 3.58 (0.673) | 0.864 † | 3.33 (0.971) | 0.653 † |
Other cities in the county or canton | 3.45 (0.888) | 3.29 (0.948) | ||
Villages or suburban settlements | 3.42 (0.902) | 2.50 (1.732) | ||
Education | ||||
Doctors with a license for independent practice without having finished specialization | 3.33 (0.893) | 0.015 * | 3.19 (1.029) | 0.348 * |
Specialist in family medicine | 3.74 (0.539) | 3.37 (0.951) | ||
Length of service | ||||
0–14 years | 3.29 (0.898) | 0.007 * | 3.09 (1.100) | 0.055 * |
15 or more years | 3.71 (0.605) | 3.50 (0.792) | ||
Type of practice | ||||
An employee of a health center | 3.36 (0.875) | 0.055 * | 3.27 (0.993) | NA |
Concession or a private practice | 3.66 (0.658) | 0 | ||
The exposure of GPs to COVID-19 and their education regarding the coronavirus infection preventative measures | ||||
The GP or his/her family member living in the same household had COVID-19 | ||||
Yes | 3.47 (0.826) | 0.630 * | 3.27 (1.001) | 0.883 * |
No | 3.56 (0.734) | 3.29 (0.985) | ||
The GP finished formal education on the prevention of infectious diseases and occupational safety | ||||
Yes | 3.70 (0.591) | 0.046 * | 3.49 (0.703) | 0.182 * |
No | 3.35 (0.894) | 3.11 (1.145) | ||
The GP finished formal education on adequate hand hygiene | ||||
Yes | 3.49 (0.804) | 0.777 * | 3.56 (0.550) | 0.095 * |
No | 3.52 (0.780) | 3.07 (1.172) | ||
In the GP’s place of work, there was an official protocol regarding protection from COVID-19 in family medicine | ||||
Yes | 3.52 (0.787) | 0.269 * | 3.24 (1.013) | 0.385 * |
No | 3.00 (0.000) | 3.67 (0.516) | ||
The GP finished formal education on COVID-19 prevention for GPs | ||||
Yes | 3.60 (0.767) | 0.255 * | 3.29 (0.984) | 0.987 * |
No | 3.45 (0.799) | 3.26 (1.007) |
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Osmani, Z.; Bajrektarevic Kehic, A.; Miskulin, I.; Dumic, L.; Pavlovic, N.; Kovacevic, J.; Lanc Curdinjakovic, V.; Dumic, J.; Vukoja, I.; Miskulin, M. The Attitudes and Practices Regarding COVID-19 among General Practitioners from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study. Behav. Sci. 2023, 13, 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050352
Osmani Z, Bajrektarevic Kehic A, Miskulin I, Dumic L, Pavlovic N, Kovacevic J, Lanc Curdinjakovic V, Dumic J, Vukoja I, Miskulin M. The Attitudes and Practices Regarding COVID-19 among General Practitioners from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study. Behavioral Sciences. 2023; 13(5):352. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050352
Chicago/Turabian StyleOsmani, Zudi, Almina Bajrektarevic Kehic, Ivan Miskulin, Lea Dumic, Nika Pavlovic, Jelena Kovacevic, Vedrana Lanc Curdinjakovic, Juraj Dumic, Ivan Vukoja, and Maja Miskulin. 2023. "The Attitudes and Practices Regarding COVID-19 among General Practitioners from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Cross-Sectional Study" Behavioral Sciences 13, no. 5: 352. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050352