Health management and needs of professional continuing education: perspective of leaders of health care institutions

Aim of the study: to evaluate the attitudes of leaders of health care institutions towards health management and needs of their professional continuing education. Methods. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to the heads of health care institutions during November 2008 – February 2009. Altogether 400 questionnaires were distributed out of which 216 were returned as valid (response rate 54%). Statistical analysis of data was performed using software „SPSS for Windows 13.0“. For hypotheses testing χ2 and z tests were used. Statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Quantitative variables were described by means and 95% confidence intervals. Results. From perspective of heads of health care institutions, health management implies planning, organizing, managing, and control. About one fifth of responders (18.4%) – more often women, having less than 34 years of work experience, and without second master degree – are lacking knowledge of management. The main considered functions of health manager are coordination of institutional activities and decision making; meanwhile the main functions of the management process are correcting and controlling. The main criteria for institutional effectiveness are demographic processes in population of interest and impact on society. In decision making, the leaders usually follow WHO directions and social aspects. The majority of responders consider the strategic and human resources management as crucial competences. More than half of the study participants are willing to improve their competences in quality management and strategic management. The responders evaluated following own professional skills as excellent: comprehension of activity and environment and paying proper attention to other opinions. Second master degree has been obtained by 17.0% of responders – more often by men, younger age, having smaller experience of work and management, and by hospital heads. The majority of study participants were studying in order to acquire the knowledge and broaden the scope; all of them apply this knowledge in practice. Most leaders are willing to improve their knowledge on health management, law and psychology; supreme leaders – rather on information technologies, while heads of hospitals – on clinical disciplines. Qualification courses for leaders are usually with intention for new knowledge and licence renewal. As the most relevant topic for qualification was mentioned the management, the least – European law. However, for the youngest responders, with smallest work experience, for heads of hospitals, and obtaining second master degree almost all topics were relevant. Conclusions. About one fifth of leaders of health care institutions are lacking knowledge on management. The majority of leaders are willing to improve their competences in quality management and strategic management, and improve their professional qualification in health management, law, and psychology