Clinical leadership style and hand hygiene compliance

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent an engaging or authentic leadership style is related to higher levels of patient safety performance. Design/methodology/approach – A survey and/or interview of 53 medical and dental staff on their perceptions of leadership style in their unit was conducted. Scores obtained from 51 responses were averaged for each question and overall performance was compared with unit specific hand hygiene (HH) compliance data. Interview material was transcribed and analysed independently by each member of the research team. Findings – A modest negative relationship between this leadership style and hand hygiene compliance rates (r=0.37) was found. Interview data revealed that environmental factors, role modelling by the leader and education to counter false beliefs about hand hygiene and infection control may be more important determinants of patient safety performance in this regard than actual overall leadership style. Research limitations/implications – The sample was relatively small, other attributes of leaders were not investigated. Practical implications – Leadership development for clinicians may need to focus on situational or adaptive capacity rather than a specific style. In the case of improving patient safety through increasing HH compliance, a more directive approach with clear statements backed up by role modelling appears likely to produce better rates. Originality/value – Little is known about patient safety and clinical leadership. Much of the current focus is on developing transformational, authentic or engaging style. This study provides some evidence that it should not be used exclusively.

Reflecting Leadership Effectiveness via Food-hygiene Practices

“…The survey results show that food handlers have a poor perception of their leaders' management of food-hygiene practices. It is similar to that found by Stevens et al (2014) and Sharma (2012), where leadership also has a negative impact on hygiene practices and even suggested that factors such as the environment, education, role modeling, and knowledge may be more important determinants. Leaders may not necessarily be professional practitioners, but can still be considered role models because of other management qualities or personality traits.…”

Reflecting leadership effectiveness via food-hygiene practices

“…It shows that professionals too can lack knowledge and awareness of correct hand-hygiene practices. Consistently, Stevens, Hemmings, Scott, Lawler, and White (2014) found a negative relationship between leadership style and hand hygiene compliance when they interviewed 53 medical and dental staff to unravel clinical leadership style and hand hygiene compliance. In this sense, leadership role modeling is effective in improving patient safety performance through increasing hand hygiene compliance.…”

“…Firstly, food handlers have a poor perception of their leaders' management of food-hygiene practices, which Stevens et al (2014) and Sharma (2012) also found. This negative outcome suggests that other factors like environment, education, role modeling, and knowledge may be more important determinants.…”

Peer-to-peer shadowing as a technique for the development of nurse middle managers clinical leadership

“…Authors report in an abundance of literature about the positive effects of nurse managers’ (clinical) leadership practices on nurse job satisfaction (Cummings et al ., 2010; Sellgren et al , 2007), on nurse sensitive patient outcomes (Wong et al , 2013), on patient safety practices (Lalleman et al ., 2016; Parand et al ., 2014; Christiana Stevens et al ., 2014) and on patient-centred care (Lalleman et al ., 2017; Taylor and Groene, 2015). In our previous study, we defined clinical leadership based on Garrubba’s (2011) description:…”