The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine highlighted the urgency of high-quality and efficient delivery of emergency care in the Republic of Moldova, and comprehensive efforts have been invested to reform these services. As part of this, WHO/Europe’s Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) Unit and the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova have initiated a joint project to identify the barriers to and drivers of behaviours needed for system-wide change to how emergency care is provided in Moldova.
To fully understand the working environment, and practices used by staff in emergency departments and their interactions with each other and patients, a mixed methods study is being initiated. This includes direct observation, in-depth interviews with health workers, key informant interviews, and patient exit surveys. Teams of 2 observers will conduct observations together, combining clinical knowledge and social science expertise.
To prepare for data collection, a one-week training has been organized by members of the BCI Unit and WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova in Chișinău, from 1–5 July 2024. Participants include local medical doctors and social scientists who are engaged in conducting observations and interviews in hospital settings in Moldova.
Following the training, participants will begin data collection, which is expected to be completed by the end of July. These findings will inform the development of targeted interventions, policies and communications to strengthen emergency health-care system reform in Moldova.
The project is supported by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State of the United States of America.
For more information on the study or training, please contact euinsights@who.int.