Leadership program with skills training for general practitioners was highly accepted without improving job...

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Organizational Psychology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Leadership skills in medicine positively correlate with job satisfaction and patient outcomes.
• No established leadership training standard exists for primary care settings.
• The IMPROVEjob program aimed to enhance job satisfaction among German general practitioners and practice staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptance and effectiveness of the IMPROVEjob leadership intervention in German primary care practices.
• To assess the impact of leadership training on job satisfaction.
• To identify factors influencing the implementation of intervention content.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomised trial with a waiting-list control group evaluated the intervention's effectiveness on job satisfaction.
• A mixed-methods approach, including questionnaires and interviews, assessed intervention acceptance and implementation.
• The intervention comprised leadership workshops, a resource toolbox, and a 9-month facilitated implementation phase.

Main Results:

• Job satisfaction did not significantly change overall, though practice leaders showed a non-significant increase.
• The intervention had no significant effect on job satisfaction (p > 0.86), but a greater sense of community positively influenced it (p < 0.05).
• Workshop acceptance was high, particularly among practice leaders, but the COVID-19 pandemic hindered implementation and delayed practice routine integration.

Conclusions:

• The IMPROVEjob leadership intervention, despite positive workshop reception, did not significantly improve job satisfaction in primary care.
• Implementation challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacted the intervention's effectiveness.
• Future leadership programs should consider community-building elements and adaptable implementation strategies.