The barriers and challenges that hinder the quality implementation in Tripoli – Lebanon hospitals

Abstract

Quality in healthcare is achievable through quality management systems and enhances service quality, operations, and management. Health organizations that realize quality implementation have high staff satisfaction, client satisfaction, employee cooperation, and commitment from managerial to subordinate levels. However, health systems must address barriers and challenges to attaining desired quality. This study explores Tripoli hospitals’ challenges and obstacles affecting the implementation of quality management systems. It used a quantitative methodology with a semi-structured questionnaire for data collection to interview respondents comprising managerial, directorial, and administrative personnel. The hospital’s management staff consisted of nursing medical quality and general directors. Results from the semi-structured interview indicated that hospital directors in Tripoli city’s healthcare systems face barriers and challenges related to human resource management and organization structure to achieving quality using quality management systems. A total of 189 participants drawn from directorial capacities in Tripoli city’s hospitals participated in the study. Most participants (I = 115) asserted that lack of staff involvement and motivation were primary barriers to hospital quality implementation. Hypotheses 1 and 3 were proved using correlation analysis, but hypothesis 2 was statistically insignificant. The findings recommended that human resource management practices such as staff motivation, fair compensation, and involvement in decision-making are necessary for quality improvement. Furthermore, managerial professionalism and specialty are crucial for spearheading quality implementation, while robust quality policies, protocols, and systems are necessary for quality implementation in Tripoli hospitals. Despite these funds, further research was necessary to align findings with previous studies (achieve generalizability), which attributed that time is the primary barrier to quality implementation in hospitals situated in the region.