Medical leadership competencies for physicians: a systematic scoping review

The concept of 'medical leadership' has emerged as a critical issue in healthcare, prompting numerous countries to adopt measures toward enhancing leadership competency among physicians. This includes the development of medical leadership competency models. This scoping review aims to map and systematise the existing literature on generalised medical leadership competency models and context-specific leadership competencies for physicians, providing a comprehensive framework for future research.

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for the scoping review framework. A comprehensive search was conducted across peer-reviewed academic databases and grey literature sources.

16 generalised medical leadership models and 13 context-specific competency studies were identified. While most models have been developed in North America and Europe, context-specific competency studies have expanded globally. Frequency analysis highlights the significant influence and application of medical leadership competency models from the UK, the USA, Canada and Switzerland.

A comparative analysis across countries emphasises the importance of considering contextual and cultural factors when developing and implementing medical leadership competencies. Over the last three decades, medical competency development has reflected a shift towards collective leadership within healthcare, with a focus on team-based, patient-centred approaches in the increasingly complex healthcare systems. Additionally, there is a growing need for competencies that address emerging challenges in healthcare, such as cultural sensitivity, crisis management, business skills and digital literacy.