Patient safety and leadership style in the government general hospitals in Kuwait: a multi-method study

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the relationships between leadership style and reported incidents, reporting practices and patient safety initiatives in Kuwaiti hospitals. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional and retrospective quantitative multi-centre study was conducted in a secondary care setting. The multifactor leadership questionnaire and the patient safety questionnaire were distributed in six general hospitals to a sample of physicians, nurses and pharmacists. Incident reports were reviewed in each hospital to assess reporting practices. Findings The hospital with the most safety incident reports scored the highest on good reporting practices, whereas the hospital with the lowest score of poor reporting practices had reported fewer incidents. Reporting was better if an error reached the patient but caused no harm. Overall, reporting practices and implementation of patient safety initiatives in the hospitals were suboptimal. Nevertheless, a transformational leadership style had a positive effect on patient safety and reporting practices. Practical implications This study represents a baseline for researchers to assess the relationship between leadership style and patient safety. Moreover, it highlights significant considerations to be addressed when planning patient safety improvement programmes. More investment is needed to understand how to raise transformational leaders who are more effective on patient safety. Further studies that include primary and tertiary health-care settings and the private sector are required. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in Kuwait to report on the relationship between transformational leadership and safety practices.

Transformational health-care leaders in collaborative entrepreneurial model to achieve UNSDG: a qualitative study

“…Besides providing detailed counseling to relatives and patients, the doctors recommend only essential treatments. Such systemic procedures based on individualized consideration, empathetic approach (Irving and Dickson, 2004) and employees’ commitment significantly increase the safety patients (Hussain and Khayat, 2021; ALFadhalah and Elamir, 2022). In particular, a caring work environment, compassion and interpersonal support (Rathert et al , 2022) are essential to provide a safe climate for them.…”

“…These measures facilitate looking after complex emergencies. Thus, the overall synergized actions [Leader4] result in considerably higher patient safety (ALFadhalah and Elamir, 2022) and patient satisfaction (Gill and White, 2009).…”

“…It also instills confidence, supportive behavior and individual recognition in subordinates, which are essential for overall organizational development. It also encourages confidence, supportive behavior and individual recognition (Rafferty and Griffin, 2004;ALFadhalah and Elamir, 2022) amongst subordinates, which is vital for overall organizational development. Specifically, TL comprises four focal attributes: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation.…”

“…“Individualized consideration” means bearing in mind and recognizing subordinates’ requirements and attending to them individually. Finally, “intellectual stimulation” promotes a novel viewpoint on previous methods/issues by encouraging creativity and scrutinizing notions underlying inconveniences (Bass, 1990; Podsakoff et al , 1996; Rafferty and Griffin, 2004; ALFadhalah and Elamir, 2022).…”

“…More recently, Curado and Santos (2021) have indicated its linkages with adaptive performance in health-care organizations. Furthermore, ALFadhalah and Elamir (2022) have highlighted positive linkages of this style with patient safety and reporting practices.…”