Role of Top Management Support in Health Workforce Performance: A Cross-Sectional Survey in ISO 9001:2008 Certified Kenyan Public Health Hospitals

Abstract

This study sought to establish the role of Top Management Support in health workforce performance in the Kenyan public health sector among the ISO 9001:2008 certified hospitals. Poor performance of health workers poses a major challenge for improving service delivery in developing countries like Kenya and leads to inaccessibility of care and inappropriate care, which thus contributes to reduction in health outcomes as people are not using services or are mistreated due to harmful practices. Few studies have investigated the effect of Top Management Support in ISO 9001:2008 certified hospitals on outcomes such as health workforce performance especially in Kenya. The research design adopted for this study was cross-sectional survey. Survey questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. Data obtained was analyzed qualitatively through factor analysis, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The study found that top management support was a significant predictor of health workforce performance. The general conclusion that was drawn from the study findings is that Top Management Support in ISO 9000:2008 certified hospitals plays a significant role in health workforce performance. The study recommends that the Kenyan Government should consider facilitating other public hospitals to be ISO 9001:2008 certified because the study showed that Top Management Support in ISO 9001:2008 certified hospitals has led to better health workforce performance.

Keywords: Top Management Support, ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, Health Workforce performance