Stereotypical images between physicians and managers in hospitals

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The relationship between physicians and hospital managers is complex and often strained.
• Existing research primarily focuses on interpersonal or intragroup dynamics, with limited qualitative studies on intergroup perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply Alexander et al.'s image theory to the hospital context, analyzing the intergroup relationship between physicians and hospital managers.
• To operationalize image theory using relative status, power, and goal incompatibility.
• To develop a tool for assessing intergroup stereotyping within healthcare organizations.

Main Methods:

• Application of image theory to the physician-manager dyad.
• Operationalization of the theory through relative status, power, and goal incompatibility variables.
• Development and validation of a questionnaire for intergroup scanning in Dutch hospitals.

Main Results:

• Hospital managers perceive physicians as having higher professional status and power but differing goals.
• Physicians perceive hospital managers as having higher power, lower status, and differing goals.
• The study validates image theory's applicability in the Dutch hospital setting, yielding a practical assessment tool.

Conclusions:

• The developed questionnaire provides insight into mutual perceptions between physicians and hospital managers.
• This insight aids in identifying and addressing bottlenecks to enhance collaboration.
• The study offers a quantitative, intergroup-level approach to a research area often dominated by qualitative, interpersonal studies.