The Role of Gynecologists in the Prevention of Breast and Ovarian Cancer in Primary Care in Kosovo: Challenges
Session
Medicine and Nursing
Description
Preventive interventions—including surgery, hormone therapy, vaccines, and medications—can reduce cancer risk before invasive disease develops. Primary care doctors play a critical role, but preventive efforts are limited by inadequate training, financial barriers, difficulty identifying high-risk patients, and a lack of approved protocols. Physicians’ recommendations are the strongest predictor of prevention uptake. Methods: This paper evaluates perceptions of Primary Cancer Prevention (PCP) among primary care doctors in Kosovo, focusing on breast and ovarian cancer risk, behaviours, and recommendations, drawing on existing literature and regional health system challenges. Results: Recent studies highlight frontline gynaecologists as key actors in preventing cancer in low-resource settings. Despite high mortality and late diagnoses in Kosovo, opportunistic screening and patient education partially compensate for the limited national infrastructure. Conclusion: Strengthening cancer prevention requires professional education, political support, and standardised protocols to position primary care doctors and gynaecologists as gatekeepers of early identification and risk reduction.
Keywords:
Primary cancer prevention, gynaecologists, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Kosovo, primary care, early detection
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.358
Recommended Citation
Bejiqi, Hana; Morina, Besmira; Agushi, Shqipe; and Bejiqi, Rinor, "The Role of Gynecologists in the Prevention of Breast and Ovarian Cancer in Primary Care in Kosovo: Challenges" (2025). UBT International Conference. 3.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/MN/3
The Role of Gynecologists in the Prevention of Breast and Ovarian Cancer in Primary Care in Kosovo: Challenges
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Preventive interventions—including surgery, hormone therapy, vaccines, and medications—can reduce cancer risk before invasive disease develops. Primary care doctors play a critical role, but preventive efforts are limited by inadequate training, financial barriers, difficulty identifying high-risk patients, and a lack of approved protocols. Physicians’ recommendations are the strongest predictor of prevention uptake. Methods: This paper evaluates perceptions of Primary Cancer Prevention (PCP) among primary care doctors in Kosovo, focusing on breast and ovarian cancer risk, behaviours, and recommendations, drawing on existing literature and regional health system challenges. Results: Recent studies highlight frontline gynaecologists as key actors in preventing cancer in low-resource settings. Despite high mortality and late diagnoses in Kosovo, opportunistic screening and patient education partially compensate for the limited national infrastructure. Conclusion: Strengthening cancer prevention requires professional education, political support, and standardised protocols to position primary care doctors and gynaecologists as gatekeepers of early identification and risk reduction.