Health professionals’ perceptions of clinical leadership. A pilot study

Aim: To identify how clinical leadership was perceived by Health Professionals (HPs) (excluding nurses and doctors) and to understand how effective clinical leadership relates to initiating and establishing a culture of change and progression in the health services. Methodology: This pilot study used a mixed methods approach, although quantitative methodological principles dominated. An on-line (SurveyMonkey) questionnaire was distributed via email links to HPs throughout the Western Australian Department of Health. Qualitative data was analysed by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (Version 21). Results: A total of 307 complete surveys were returned. Participants represented 6.1% of the total WA HP workforce and a wide range of HP disciplines. The majority of respondents were female (86.5%), the median age was 38.9 years and the majority of respondents worked in acute hospital environments (59.9%) and in a metropolitan location (73.7%). Most participants (79.2%) saw themselves or were reportedly seen by others (76.2%) as clinical leaders. The main attributes associated with clinical leadership were; effective communicator, clinical competence, approachability, role model and supportive. The main attribute identified least with clinical leadership was “controlling”. Only 22.2% saw clinical leaders as managers, while the majority saw a clinical focus as important (85.3%). Clinical leaders were perceived as having an impact on how clinical care is delivered, staff support and leading change and service improvement. *Corresponding author: David Stanley, School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia E-mail: [email protected] Reviewing editor: Albert Lee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Additional information is available at the end of the article ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Stanley (NursD, MSc HS, BA Ng, Dip HE (Nursing), RN, RM, Grad. Cert. HPE, Gerontic Cert) began his nursing career in the days when nurses wore huge belt buckles and funny hats. He is currently a Professor in Nursing at the University of New England NSW, Australia. He has researched and explored issues related to clinical leadership with a range of health professionals since 2001. He has also undertaken a number of other research studies exploring nursing and the media, men in nursing and clinical nursing issues. He has taught research methods and clinical leadership to UG and PG nursing and allied health students at a number of universities in Australia and Asia and supervised a number of Higher Degree Research students to successful completion. PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT Understanding clinical Leadership from the perspective of a wide range of health professionals (excluding nurses and medical practitioners) has rarely been attempted. Yet health professionals who work as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and a host of others who offer vital health services provide significant leadership in clinical practice. This study offers an insight into their understanding of what clinical leadership is, who the clinical leaders are, and how they see their role as clinical leaders. Most health professionals saw themselves as clinical leaders who communicated effectively, set direction, were clinically competent, have integrity, are approachable, are supportive and act as role models for others. They were seldom in positions of control and while they faced many barriers to effective clinical leadership they were also perceived as having an impact on how clinical care is delivered, leading change and service improvement influencing organizational policy. Received: 17 December 2016 Accepted: 18 April 2017 First Published: 24 April 2017 © 2017 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license. Page 1 of 15 David Stanley