Purpose - The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of management and leadership competence of health-care leaders and managers, especially in the hospital environment. Health-care leaders and managers in this study were both nursing and physician managers. Competence was assessed by evaluating the knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities that enable management and leadership tasks. Design/methodology/approach - A systematic literature review was performed to find articles that identify and describe the characteristics of management and leadership competence. Searches of electronic databases were conducted using set criteria for article selection. Altogether, 13 papers underwent an inductive content analysis. Findings - The characteristics of management and leadership competence were categorized into the following groups: health-care-context-related, operational and general. Research limitations/implications - One limitation of the study is that only 13 articles were found in the literature regarding the characteristics of management and leadership competence. However, the search terms were relevant, and the search process was endorsed by an information specialist. The study findings imply the need to shift away from the individual approach to leadership and management competence. Management and leadership need to be assessed more frequently from a holistic perspective, and not merely on the basis of position in the organizational hierarchy or of profession in health care. Originality/value - The authors' evaluation of the characteristics of management and leadership competence without a concentrated profession-based approach is original.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to elicit and analyze experts’ perceptions of management and leadership competence (MLC) and likely MLC developments and requirements in hospital contexts by 2030. Design/methodology/approach A three-round, web-based Argument Delphi process was used to gather critically discussed opposing perceptions of 33 Finnish experts, which were subjected to inductive content analysis to identify themes. Findings Current deficiencies in MLC and several trends (e.g. an ongoing shift towards collaborative management) and required improvements (e.g. a need to adopt more holistic approaches) were identified. However, there were some conflicting perceptions, regarding for example the desirability of fixed-term positions for managers. Research limitations/implications The findings provide qualitative indications of a group of Finnish experts’ perceptions of MLC and requirements for its development, elicited using the Argument Delphi Method. Thus, they are subject to the usual limitations of the applied methodology and should be generalized to other contexts cautiously. Practical implications The identification of current deficiencies and future requirements for MLC may facilitate the formulation of robust approaches for improving it in hospital contexts. Social implications The findings may be useful for improving MLC in hospitals, thereby enhancing efficiency, teamwork, safety and client satisfaction in healthcare settings. Originality/value The Argument Delphi Method has been rarely used in health management science studies and healthcare context. It is intended to develop relevant arguments and reveal reasons for differing views about focal issues, thereby providing deeper understanding of experts’ perceptions of MLC and its likely development.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how Finnish experts perceive future (year 2030) hospital management and leadership. Design/methodology/approach A total of 33 experts participated in a three-round Argument Delphi process. Opposing views of management and leadership in 2030 were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Findings The experts’ perceptions were divided into two main categories: management and leadership orientation and future organization. Perceptions relating to management and leadership orientation were classified as relating to patient-centred, clinical dominance, professionally divided and management career options. Perceptions relating to future management and leadership organization were classified as representing shared, pair, team and the individual-centered leadership. The results highlighted the most distinctive issues raised by the participants. Research limitations/implications This qualitative study was conducted in the context of Finnish healthcare according to the principles of the Argument Delphi Method. The panel consisted of high-level experts representing a diverse set of roles. However, as suggested in previous literature, these experts may not be the most astute in predicting the future development of hospital organizations. Practical implications The findings can be used to develop and renew management and leadership training and management practices in hospitals. Social implications The findings can be exploited in discussions, planning and decision making regarding future management and leadership in hospitals. Originality/value Only a few studies have investigated perceptions of future management in hospitals. This study adopted the Argument Delphi Method to identify distinct perceptions on the future orientation and organization of management and leadership in hospitals.

Nurse‐led counseling and systematic follow‐up have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factor levels. The study aims were to investigate if cardiovascular risk factor levels could be reduced in patients with coronary artery disease with a nurse‐led intervention and to report patients' evaluations of nurse‐led counseling. The study design was a real‐life longitudinal follow‐up counseling intervention. Data were collected from November 2017 to May 2020. The nurse‐led intervention and patients’ follow‐up time was 1 year. Of the 78 patients recruited, 74 completed the study. The most significant findings were in the levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides at every follow‐up visit compared to their baseline levels and that waist circumference decreased during the 1‐year follow‐up. Patients assessed the quality of nurse‐led counseling to be very good, though it decreased slightly during follow‐up. The results suggest the integrated care path and specialized and primary care for coronary artery disease patients need further development. More research is needed on how to strengthen patients’ self‐management and what kind of counseling would best promote it.