The role of formal training in building healthcare management competencies

Abstract

Background/Aims There has been a growing interest and need for formal competency-based professional education for enhancing both individual and organisational performance in hospital management in Nigeria. This study investigated the relationship between formal managerial education and measurable competencies among hospital managers. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 104 managers from 25 purposively selected hospitals. The survey assessed managerial competencies, with a score of ≥123 indicating overall managerial competence. The collected data were analysed using both descriptive (percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential (Mann-Whitney U test) statistics, comparing participants who had received formal healthcare management training and those who had not. P<0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference between scores. Results There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of developed abilities (P=0.072), planning skills (P=0.406), leadership skills (P=0.213), evaluation skills (P=0.543), organisational skills (P=0.805) or self-management skills (P=0.077). There was also no significant difference between the groups in terms of overall managerial skills (P=0.240). Conclusions Receiving formal professional training in healthcare management had no effect on hospital managers' managerial competencies. Improving the effectiveness of training programmes may require targeted healthcare management education training for the development of specific managerial competencies.