Use of evidence-based management in healthcare administration decision-making

Ruiling Guo; Steven D Berkshire; Lawrence V Fulton; Patrick M Hermanson

doi:10.1108/LHS-07-2016-0033

Use of evidence-based management in healthcare administration decision-making

Leadersh Health Serv (Bradf Engl). 2017 Jul 3;30(3):330-342. doi: 10.1108/LHS-07-2016-0033.

Authors

Ruiling Guo¹, Steven D Berkshire², Lawrence V Fulton³, Patrick M Hermanson¹

Affiliations

¹ Health Care Administration, Kasiska School of Health Professions, Idaho State University , Pocatello, Idaho, USA.
² Department of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA.
³ Department of Health Organization Management, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University , Lubbock, Texas, USA.

PMID: 28693398
DOI: 10.1108/LHS-07-2016-0033

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether healthcare leaders use evidence-based management (EBMgt) when facing major decisions and what types of evidence healthcare administrators consult during their decision-making. This study also intends to identify any relationship that might exist among adoption of EBMgt in healthcare management, attitudes towards EBMgt, demographic characteristics and organizational characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted among US healthcare leaders. Spearman's correlation and logistic regression were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 23.0. Findings One hundred and fifty-four healthcare leaders completed the survey. The study results indicated that 90 per cent of the participants self-reported having used an EBMgt approach for decision-making. Professional experiences (87 per cent), organizational data (84 per cent) and stakeholders' values (63 per cent) were the top three types of evidence consulted daily and weekly for decision-making. Case study (75 per cent) and scientific research findings (75 per cent) were the top two types of evidence consulted monthly or less than once a month. An exploratory, stepwise logistic regression model correctly classified 75.3 per cent of all observations for a dichotomous "use of EBMgt" response variable using three independent variables: attitude towards EBMgt, number of employees in the organization and the job position. Spearman's correlation indicated statistically significant relationships between healthcare leaders' use of EBMgt and healthcare organization bed size ( r_s = 0.217, n = 152, p < 0.01), attitude towards EBMgt ( r_s = 0.517, n = 152, p < 0.01), and the number of organization employees ( r_s = 0.195, n = 152, p = 0.016). Originality/value This study generated new research findings on the practice of EBMgt in US healthcare administration decision-making.

Keywords: Decision-making; Evidence-based management; Health leaders; Healthcare administrators; Healthcare management; Healthcare organizations.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making*
Evidence-Based Practice*
Health Services Administration*
Humans
Leadership
Organizational Culture
Organizational Innovation