Clinician Participation in Innovation Labs at University Hospitals: Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health Transformation

Background:

• Innovation labs (ILs) are increasingly adopted in hospitals to drive digital transformation and innovation.
• Sustainable staff participation in ILs is a challenge due to structural, cultural, and time barriers faced by frontline clinicians and nurses.
• Understanding staff integration is crucial for maximizing the potential of hospital innovation labs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore effective engagement strategies for hospital staff in university hospital innovation labs.
• To identify organizational, structural, and cultural factors influencing staff participation in ILs.
• To understand and compare physician and nursing perspectives on IL engagement and derive practical recommendations.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed at a large German university hospital.
• Phase 1 involved semistructured interviews with innovation leaders.
• Phase 2 utilized a structured online survey distributed to all hospital staff, with quantitative data analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric comparative methods.

Main Results:

• Staff support ILs aligned with institutional priorities, workflow improvements, and integrated hospital structures.
• Key enablers for participation include protected time, dedicated funding, and methodological expertise.
• Clinicians are motivated by skill acquisition and problem-solving, preferring flexible roles; significant differences exist between physician and nursing perspectives.

Conclusions:

• Engaging clinicians in university hospital ILs necessitates structural support, clear strategic alignment, and consideration of diverse professional motivations.
• Internal IL models, adequate resource allocation, and customized participation formats are vital for effective clinician engagement.
• Empirically grounded recommendations are provided for designing and implementing successful ILs in university hospital settings.