European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY OF PERCEIVED HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY AND DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN IRAQ

Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Salih*, Dr. Qadas Abdul Wahhab Ahmed  and Dr. Sawsan Mohammed Abdul Razzaq

ABSTRACT

To coordinate the complex environment hospitals, managers must possess enough managerial competencies. The underlying assumption is that there is a potential gap in management capacity between public and private hospitals in Iraq. This study aims to evaluate competency level of hospital managers and to compare their competencies in public and private hospitals. This study was descriptive-analytic, carried out in 2017 in Baghdad / Iraq. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 65 public and private hospitals managers. Respondents were asked to rate their competencies in a five-key subscale that included people-related skills, health delivery, self-management, task-related skills, as well as strategic planning and management. Ratings were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from very low to excellent competency level. Self-assessment of competencies level showed that managers in all state hospitals evaluate their competency at a low level. Managers felt most competent in health delivery skills (3.73), people-related skills (3.65), strategic planning and management (3.60), relatively less competent in self-management (3.49) and task related skills (3.39). While being the mean total competency levels were significantly higher among male managers, those who participated in the healthcare/hospital management training courses, and those whose primary formal qualification was management in healthcare/hospital management (P=0.044). Similarly, managers who had more experience in their current position were more likely to report higher competencies level (P=0.046). Managers in private hospitals perceived themselves to be significantly more competent than their public hospitals colleagues in most of the management facets (P=0.001). There is a perceived lack of management capacity by managers of both public and private hospitals and the gap between public and private hospitals is small. There is widespread need for management training to be made available in Iraq.

Keywords: Hospital managers, Managerial competencies, Private hospitals, Public hospitals.