Investigating the Gap Between Perceived Importance and Competency of Managerial Dimensions from the Perspective of Health Care Management Graduates

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Health Policy and Management Research Center, Department of Health Management & Economics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

2 School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Center for healthcare Data Modeling, Departments of Biostatistic and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

10.34172/jhad.1213

Abstract

Background: Health Care Management (HCM) is a key field within the healthcare sector. The role of management and its associated functions is highly important in enhancing the quality of hospital care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the gap between perceived importance and competency of managerial dimensions from the perspective of HCM graduates at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd province.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 employed graduates of HCM at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: demographic information and questions related to managerial competency dimensions, covering 11 dimensions and 61 items.
Results: Most respondents were aged 20–29 years, were male (59.4%), worked as administrative experts (31.7%), and had 10 years or less of work experience. The highest self-assessed competency scores were observed in ethics (3.93 ± 0.61) and customer orientation (3.83 ± 0.65). Gap analysis showed that all domains except ethics demonstrated statistically significant gaps between self-assessed competency and perceived importance (paired t-test, P < 0.001). The largest gap was observed in financial management (−0.57 ± 0.89). The smallest gaps were found in ethics (−0.20 ± 0.80; not statistically significant) and service delivery management (−0.21 ± 0.79).
Conclusion: Graduates require enhanced skills in the areas of knowledge management, information and communication management, and financial management. The implementation of modern teaching methods and holding specialized workshops can contribute to increasing these necessary skills among the graduates.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Bastani P, Mohammadpour M, Bahmaei J, Ravangard R, Mehralian G. Hospital management by health services management graduates: the change paradigm in Iran. Heliyon. 2021;7(11):e08414. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08414
Etemadian M, Mosadeghrad AM, Soleimani MJ, Hedayati SP. Leadership critical success factors in hospital: case study of Hasheminejad hospital. Razi J Med Sci. 2020;27(1):38-61.
Pillay R. Managerial competencies of hospital managers in South Africa: a survey of managers in the public and private sectors. Hum Resour Health. 2008;6:4. doi: 10.1186/1478-4491-6-4
Khodayari-Zarnaq R, Nosratnejad S, Mobasseri K, Kakemam E. Evaluation of capabilities of health care management bachelor of science graduates. Depiction of Health. 2021;12(1):44-54. doi: 10.34172/doh.2021.06
Sadegh Tabrizi J, Azami-Aghdash S. Perspective of health service management master students about methods of holding clerkship and internship courses: a qualitative study. Res Med Educ. 2015;7(3):1-10. doi: 10.18869/acadpub.rme.7.3.1
MoHME. Curriculum for the management of healthcare services. MoHME; 2023.
Askari R, Sheikhy-Chaman M, Entezarian Ardekani S, Miankoohi E. Career destiny of healthcare management field from the perspective of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences graduates. Quarterly Journal of Management Strategies in Health System. 2021;5(4):295-305. doi: 10.18502/mshsj.v5i4.5807
Sadegh Tabrizi J, Mardani L, Kalantari H, Hamzehei Z. Clerkship from the perspective of students of health services management and family health in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Iran J Med Educ. 2011;10(4):439-51. [Persian].
Azami Z, Salehiniya H. A survey of information literacy among students of faculty of management and information science in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Iran J Med Educ. 2014;14(7):633-40. [Persian].
Beigzadeh A, Okhovati M, Mehrolhasani MH, Shokoohi M, Bazrafshan A. Challenges of the bachelor program of health services management: a qualitative study. J Health Adm. 2014;17(55):29-42. [Persian].
Khadka DK, Gurung M, Chaulagain N. Managerial competencies–a survey of hospital managers’ working in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. J Hosp Adm. 2014;3(1):62-72. doi: 10.5430/jha.v3n1p62
Pillay R. The skills gap in hospital management in the South African public health sector. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2008;14(5):E8-14. doi: 10.1097/01.Phh.0000333890.68140.61
Pillay R. Defining competencies for hospital management: a comparative analysis of the public and private sectors. Leadersh Health Serv (Bradf Engl). 2008;21(2):99-110. doi: 10.1108/17511870810870547.
Salimi SH, Karami Nia R, Amiri M, Mirzamani SM. Personality characteristics and occupational success in senior managers of a governmental organization. J Res Behav Sci. 2006;4(1):5-12. [Persian].
Kermani B, Darvish H, Sarlak MA, Kolivand P. The relationship between leadership competencies of managers and administrative staff with hospitals’ performance. Journal of Hospital. 2017;15(4):115-25. [Persian].
Health and Development Journal
Volume 14, Issue 1
May 2025
Pages 1-6

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 26 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 10 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 December 2026

Share

How to cite

Statistics