Leadership as a driver for work motivation : a study of well-functioning primary healthcare centers in Sweden

• Introduction: Little is known about how, why, or under which circumstances work motivation is formed and linked to reforms and interventions.Aim: The aim of this study is to explore work motivation among professionals at well-functioning primary healthcare centers subject to a national healthcare reform which include financial incentives.Material & method: Five primary healthcare centers in Sweden were purposively selected for being well-operated and representing public/private and small/large units. Forty-three interviews were completed with different medical professions and qualitative deductive content analysis was conducted.Results: Work motivation exists for professionals when their individual goals are aligned with the organizational goals and the design of the reform. The centers’ positive management was due to a unique combination of factors, such as clear direction of goals, a culture of nonhierarchical collaboration, and systematic quality improvement work. Social processes where professionals work together as cohesive groups, and provided space for quality improvement work is pivotal in addressing how alignment is created. The units expressed a collective capacity to produce direction, alignment and commitment.Conclusions: The design of the reforms and leadership are essential preconditions for work motivation. Leaders need to consistently translate and integrate reforms with the professionals’ drives and values. This is done by encouraging participation through teamwork, time for structured reflection and quality improvement work. The values of the study consist of showing how a range of aspects combine for primary healthcare professionals to successfully manage external reforms, and how professionals collectively produce leadership.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Arbetslivsstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Work Sciences (hsv//eng)

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