Good physician leadership – views of specializing doctors and dentists on physician leadership

Background High-quality physician leadership is related to the quality and efficiency of health care, but physician leadership has been considered secondary to clinical work. Leadership education for specializing doctors and dentists (EJO) is being reformed. This study examined the backgrounds and views on physician leadership of the participants in the EJO course at Oulu.

Methods The data was collected in 1/2022 in the EJO introductory part. 78 informants participated the study (response rate 96,3%). The study was conducted as a mixed-method study. Background factors, leadership interest, and the importance of different leadership roles were examined using quantitative research methods, while views on good physician leadership were examined by content analysis and thematization.

Results Descriptions of good physician leadership were divided into main categories: leader qualities, special features of management and behavior, which was further divided into sub-categories. The most important Mintzberg leadership roles were the roles of leader and disseminator.

Conclusions The perceptions of good physician leadership had similarities to transformational leadership theory. Both management and leadership roles emerged important.

Laura Kuivalainen, Sari Huikko-Tarvainen, Petri Kulmala, Timo Tuovinen