Leading health reform: a critical review of ‘leadership’ within allied health competency standards

Abstract

To examine if, when, and how select allied health professional standards currently articulate the Health LEADS Australia themes. MethodsEighteen allied health professional standards were searched to locate references to leadership.Data were extracted and inductively, deductively and thematically analysed as a meta-synthesis.Frequencies were counted, with sub-analysis by professional area, classification level, competency type, and Blooms (1) level. ResultsThere were 953 direct and indirect leadership statements. Only 2 leadership definitions were located: pharmacists and dentists. The principal theme Leadership only appeared as 18 (2%) of the total data set that made direct references to leadership, which were mostly vague and unclear. The remaining indirect references to leadership are reported as four overarching themes: Self leadership (289,31%); Leadership with and of others (263, 29%); Improvement and change leadership (223, 24%) and Health reform leadership (139, 18%). ConclusionsHealth leadership is not easily recognisable in the examined allied health practice standards. With some refinement they could play a critical role in preparing future allied health graduates to support ongoing health system reform needed to improve public health.