The Role of Managers' Leadership Competencies in Hospital Performance: Evidence From a Developing Country

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the leadership competencies of staff holding managerial positions in university hospitals in Golestan province and its relationship with the hospital's performance.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022, during which 408 operational, middle, and senior managers from 17 affiliated hospitals of Golestan University of Medical Sciences were included in the study by census method. The data collection tools were the clinical leadership competency framework (CLCF) questionnaire and Iranian hospitals' managerial performance evaluation checklist. To analyze the data, descriptive indices and statistical tests were used.

In total, 131 (32.1%) were men and 277 (67.9%) were women, 362 (88.7%) were married and 46 (11.3%) were single, and their average age, general work experience, and managerial experience were 42.28, 17.65, and 8, respectively. The average total score of leadership competencies was (63.06 ± 16.32) and hospital performance evaluation (786.12 ± 107.20). The overall score of leadership competencies (p-value = 0.041) and dimensions of individual characteristics (p-value = 0.020), working with others (p-value = 0.015), and improving services (p-value = 0.049) had a direct and significant relationship with the score of performance indicators.

In terms of leadership skills, the studied employees were in a weak state and the hospitals were in a good condition in terms of performance. Also, a direct and significant relationship was observed between the total score of leadership competencies and the dimension of performance indicators.