| Hospital managers should have enough managerial competencies to coordinate the
complex environment. The underlying assumption is that there is a potential gap in
management capacity between public and private hospitals in Iran. This study aims to
evaluate competency level of hospital managers and to compare their competencies in
public and private hospitals.
Materials and methods
This study was descriptive-analytic, carried out in 2015. A survey using a selfadministered questionnaire was conducted among 127 public and private hospitals
managers in Tehran Province, Iran. Respondents were asked to rate their
competencies in a five-key subscale that included people-related skills, health delivery,
self-management, task-related skills, and strategic planning and management. Ratings
were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from very low to excellent competency
level.
Results
Self-assessment of competencies level showed that managers in all state hospitals
evaluate their competency at a low level. Managers felt most competent in healthdelivery skills (3.71), people-related skills (3.61), and strategic planning and
management (3.57), relatively less competent in self-management (3.54) and taskrelated skills (3.49). 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 (Po0.05). Similarly, managers who
had more experience in their current position were more likely to report higher
competencies level (Po0.05). Managers in private hospitals perceived themselves to
be significantly more competent than their public hospitals colleagues in most of the
management facets (Po0.001).
Conclusion and recommendations
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 Iran. |