The Role of Life Skills Training In Developing An Attitude of Authentic Leadership In Public Health Specialists: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study In Poland

Abstract

Background: Effective healthcare decision making involves the use of decision-making skills (DMS). DMS are considered to be crucial life skills conditioning proper group social functioning (i.e. support authentic leadership skills - ALS) and increasing one's chances of success and wellbeing in life. Nonetheless, the number of scientific papers addressing the role of LS in developing ALS in PH specialists is limited. Aim of the study was to develop a theoretical model to determine the role of selected LS in developing authentic leadership skills in public health specialists.Methods: The study was conducted from January 16 through February 28, 2018. In total, 653 students undertaking in-service training in Master's degree programs were qualified for the study, and complete data sets were obtained from 329 students ( response rate 50.38% ). The error margin was 3.17% (95% confidence level). The data were collected by means of a paper questionnaire. Four research tools were used in the study: The Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ), The Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ), The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), The Youth Leadership Life Skills Development (YLLSD).Results: Two subgroups were identified among the public health specialists in the study: 1) the extra social skills training group (N = 113), and 2) the no extra social skills training group (N = 216). Both groups of the study participants did not differ significantly in age (M [SD]: 25.0 [3.89] vs. 25.0 [3.66]; t = 0.068, P = 0.946). On the other hand, clear differences were observed in the case of the respondents' participation in voluntary service. The respondents from the extra SST group declared participation in voluntary activities less frequently than the respondents from the no extra SST group (48.7 vs. 31.9%). Both calculated measures (CMIN = 15.020, df = 8 and CMIN/DF = 1.88) point to the empirical confirmation of the model. Conclusions: A course aimed at strengthening authentic leadership competences should be modular, focus on self-improvement and critical reflection, as well as spread over time so as to enable and encourage each participant to grow and flourish at their own pace.