Role of Leadership Competencies on Digital Health Adoption and the Parallel Mediation effects of Change Readiness and Training Effectiveness in a Saudi Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background: Digital health transformation is a major factor in the journey towards fulfilling the Saudi's vision 2030. However, there has been uneven adoption trends among the leading healthcare facilities in the country, and the mediation mechanisms around leadership on the adoption success remain poorly explored.

Objective: This study examined the direct and indirect impacts of leadership competencies on digital health adoption through the mediating roles of change readiness of healthcare providers and training effectiveness at King Salman Medical City (KSMC), Madinah.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical design was applied whereby 387 participants were recruited through stratified sampling across different healthcare professions at KSMC. Leadership competencies were assessed with the Leadership Practices Inventory, Organisational Change Readiness with an Organisational Change Readiness Scale based on Weiner's theory, and Training Effectiveness was assessed with a scale based on the principles of Kirkpatrick. Technology Acceptance Model-based scale was used to measure digital health adoption. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and SPSS-AMOS, version 28.

Results: The study established a direct and statistically significant impact of leadership competencies on digital health adoption (β = 0.34, p < .001); and at the same time, a parallel mediation effects exerted by change readiness (β = 0.16, 95% CI [0.098, 0.234]) and training effectiveness (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.071, 0.182]). The two mediators in the model jointly accounted for 45.2% of the total effect (β = 0.62). Overall, the model accounted for 61.3% of the variance in the adoption. Enable Others to Act was noted as the most influential predictor of leadership for the adoption (β = .26).

Conclusion: Leadership competencies have significant roles on digital health adoption practices in KSMC, and this influence can be exerted through psychological and capability building pathways, which call for leadership development and training initiatives.