An investigation into leadership and leadership development within the profession of physiotherapy in Ireland

Abstract

Background:Health service reform, physiotherapy graduate unemployment and the impending introduction of state regulation mean that physiotherapists in Ireland are facing many challenges in this period of transition and development. Leadership is needed to ensure that the professionwill be able to continue to adapt to the demands and inevitable changes ahead. This is the first investigation into leadership and leadership development within the profession of physiotherapy in Ireland. Purpose: To investigate the perceptions of physiotherapists in Ireland of leadership and to explore their participation in leadership development training. Methods: In this cross-sectional nationwide study, an internet-based survey was administered via e-mail to members of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (n= 2787). The original questionnaire was designed using information obtained through a literature review on leadership characteristics described in healthcare and business settings. Adaptations weremade to the original questionnaire to make it applicable to an Irish participant and additional questions were asked. The questionnaire asked participants to rate how important they perceive fifteen leadership qualities to be for physiotherapists in each of three settings–the workplace, the healthcare system and society, using a 5 point likert scale (1 = not at all important, 5 = extremely important). Participants were also asked to rate how important attaining a leadership position was to their overall sense of career success and if they had participated in any leadership development training. Chi-square analyses were performed to investigate factors associated with self-declaration as a leader and the importance placed on attaining a leadership position. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the ratings of leadership characteristics across the three settings. Results: The response rate was 22% (n= 615) in keeping with other studies where physiotherapists have been surveyed. Over 74% of respondents perceived themselves to be a leader. Factors associated with self-declaration as a leader were time since graduation, highest qualification attained and leadership development training.Leadership trainingwas also associated with increased importance placed on achieving a leadership position. Some form of leadership training had been completed by 44% of respondents (24.2% formal training, 32.4% informal training). Communication and professionalism were the leadership characteristics most highly rated across the three settings. Leadership characteristics were consistently more highly rated in the workplace than in the healthcare system and society. Conclusion(s): The majority of respondents to this questionnaire perceived themselves to be leaders and rated attainment of a leadership position as important to their overall sense of career success. Physiotherapists who have had leadership development training weremore likely to perceive themselves to be leaders. Communication and professionalism were the leadership characteristic perceived to be most important to physiotherapists in Ireland. Development of communication skills and professional attributes should, therefore, be considered when designing leadership training initiatives appropriate to physiotherapists in Ireland. Implications: Leadership development opportunities should be offered to physiotherapists to aid them to demonstrate leadership both clinically and non-clinically. Further research is needed to explore the mode and content of leadership development training that would be most effective for physiotherapists.