Development and Evaluation of Relational Leadership Guidelines for Primary Healthcare: A Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Public Health Leadership

Background:

• Primary healthcare (PHC) faces challenges from rapid technological, demographic, and systemic changes.
• Traditional hierarchical leadership models are inadequate for modern healthcare complexities.
• Relational leadership (RL), emphasizing emotional intelligence and collaboration, offers a promising alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop and evaluate practical guidelines for implementing RL in PHC.
• Enhance adaptability, flexibility, and innovation within PHC environments.
• Provide a framework for transitioning from hierarchical to relational leadership models.

Main Methods:

• Employed a descriptive, exploratory concurrent parallel mixed-method design.
• Utilized the Relational Leadership Questionnaire (RLQ) for quantitative assessment.
• Incorporated action learning methods (journals, group sessions, observations) for qualitative insights.

Main Results:

• RL significantly strengthens team cohesion, stakeholder collaboration, and organizational performance in PHC.
• Key RL elements mitigate challenges like role overload and resource constraints.
• Targeted training and structural adjustments are crucial for transitioning to RL.

Conclusions:

• Evaluated guidelines offer a transformative framework for PHC leadership.
• Shifting to RL fosters inclusive, innovative, and responsive healthcare organizations.
• Findings support ongoing leadership development and future research in adaptive healthcare practices.