What the study found
The study found three main themes: tensions between accreditation and quality culture, leadership as a collective and emotionally demanding task, and accreditation as a process that can produce both practical improvements and emotional reinforcement. The authors also say there is a need to clarify the role of the internal lead and to align accreditation language with clinical and managerial realities.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that leadership development, institutional investment, and redesigned accreditation standards may be needed to better reflect clinical practice and managerial responsibilities. The study suggests that supportive environments matter because organisational change has emotional and cultural effects and should foster shared responsibility, team engagement, and sustainable quality improvement.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a qualitative hermeneutic approach, which means they interpreted interview and observation data to understand meaning in context. They conducted individual and group semi-structured interviews and participant observation with six healthcare professionals responsible for accreditation projects under the Andalusian Agency for Health Quality in a European public hospital. They analysed the data using Ricoeur’s interpretive framework, guided by the PRECEDE model, which is a planning framework for identifying predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors.
What worked and what didn't
The study reports that accreditation could generate tangible improvements and emotional reinforcement. It also reports conceptual tension between accreditation and quality culture, and describes leadership work as collective and emotionally demanding. The abstract does not provide detailed examples of which specific practices worked best or which did not.
What to keep in mind
This was a small qualitative study with six participants in one European public hospital, so the findings are limited to that setting. The abstract notes one future research direction: examining how gender dynamics influence leadership in accreditation processes.
Key points
- Three themes emerged: tension between accreditation and quality culture, collective emotionally demanding leadership, and accreditation-linked improvements plus emotional reinforcement.
- The authors say the internal lead’s role should be clarified and accreditation language aligned with clinical and managerial realities.
- The study used interviews, group interviews, and participant observation with six healthcare professionals.
- PRECEDE was used to examine predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors in leadership practices.
- The abstract describes accreditation as producing tangible improvements, but gives no detailed examples.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Leadership and accreditation shaped quality culture in one hospital study
- Authors:
- Maria Pilar Mesa-Blanco, Pedro E. Ventura-Puertos, Víctor M. González‐Chordá, Manuel Rich-Ruiz
- Institutions:
- Cordoba University, Cordoba University, Cordoba University, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Medical Research Network, Triangle : Action, Discours, Pensée politique et économique, Unidad de Investigación en cuidados y servicios de salud (Investén-isciii), Universitat Jaume I
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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