Authentic leadership, organizational culture and the effects of hospital quality management practices on quality of care and patient satisfaction

Abstract

Aim: To examine the influence of hospital culture and authentic leadership on the effects of quality improvement practices on patient satisfaction.

Background: Nurses in formal leadership roles shape and are shaped by organizational culture to achieve high performance standards to influence quality of care.

Design: Using structural equation modelling, we tested a model on quality improvement practices across three participant groups that differed based on authentic leadership and hospital culture.

Methods: We used survey data from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2015 measuring nurse. Managers' perceptions of authentic leadership, implementation of quality improvement, and organizational culture in Canadian hospitals.

Results: 226 nurse managers participated. Our model estimations fit for the high-relational group and mixed group. Our model explained 50.7% and 39.5% variance in our outcome variable of patient satisfaction for the high-relational group and mixed group, respectively. Our model failed to fit the low-relational group.

Conclusion: Authentic leadership and developmental/group hospital cultures improve quality management practices, quality of care and patient satisfaction. In organizations with low authentic leadership and hierarchical/rational cultures, strategies should target increasing authentic leadership and shifting to developmental cultures. Organizations with high authentic leadership and/or developmental/group cultures should target employee engagement, autonomy and teamwork.

Impact: We examined how different combinations of authentic leadership and hospital culture influence the effects of quality management practices on quality improvement and patient satisfaction. Findings demonstrate that having both high authentic leadership and developmental or group hospital cultures are essential for quality improvement practices to enhance the quality of care and patient satisfaction. These organizations would benefit the most from systemic programs aimed at standardizing quality management practices as they have the culture and leadership to support these practices. For hospitals with hierarchical/rational cultures and/or low authentic leadership, enhancing hospital culture and leadership through leadership training and accreditation programs is critically needed.

Patient or public contribution: The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta contributed to this study by facilitating data collection and supporting the conduct of the study through messaging to its members.

Keywords: leadership; nurse managers; quality of care; quantitative approaches.