Application of SWOT Analysis to Assess Supervision of Primary Health Care Quality in Kosovo: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction:This study aimed at preparing the basis for informed decision-making for enhancing the quality of primary healthcare in Kosovo. Objectives: The objective was to answer which are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) surrounding quality supervision in Kosovo primary healthcare (PHC). Methods: A document review and deductive coding were applied to create a SWOT matrix. Cumulative voting of weight and ratings were applied and the total group scores were presented in a coordinate system. After drawing a vector, the risk zone, play zone or value zone were identified. Results: Strengths of supervising PHC quality are the internal quality mechanisms, the motivation of Quality Coordinators, and the administrative independence of the PHC organisations (total score 235/300). Weaknesses are a lack of continuous training/communication, a lack of support to perform duties and a lack of budget control (100/300). Opportunities are strategic interest in PHC, external quality mechanisms, and service purchasing (220/300). Threats are deficient responsive management, insufficient coordination by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and absence of accreditation (20/300). The graphic presentation revealed that Weaknesses and Threats fall into the risk zone [coordinate (100,20)]. Among them, the most inhibiting factors were deficient responsive management and insufficient coordination by the MoH, each having a partial score of 0, and requiring immediate attention. Conclusion:The SWOT analysis proved to be a useful method to identify factors impacting the supervision of PHC quality and offer evidence for initiating modification activities.