Enhancing Creative Leadership for Digital Health Adoption Through an Evidence-Based Training Programme at a Saudi Tertiary Healthcare Complex

Abstract

Background: Leadership competencies among the healthcare leaders have been mentioned the key drivers of digital health adoption; however, there is little intervention-based empirical evidence about this claim in Saudi Arabia.

Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Creative Leadership for Digital Health Adoption (CLDH) intervention programme on leadership competencies among healthcare leaders at King Salman Medical City (KSMC), Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was applied through the non-equivalent group design (experimental: n = 54; control: n = 52). The outcome was measured using the customised Creative Leadership Competency Scale (CLCS) consisting of 35 items with five dimensions rated on a 5-point Likert scale: Creative Problem-Solving, Visionary Communication, Innovative Risk Taking, Collaborative Empowerment, and Motivational Recognition. Additional assessments were made using self-reports, structured observations, performance-based assessments, reflective journals, focus groups, and skills demonstration vignettes.

Results: The experimental groups showed a significant score improvements across all five CLCS dimensions (d = 2.12, range: 1.71–2.50; F(1,103) = 161.34, p < .001, η²p = .61). These improvements had no significant variations across the different professional features, such as education level and years of experience (p > .34). However, there were no statistically significant improvements among the control group members. Additionally, the level of satisfaction with the programme was noted to be high (M = 4.33/5.0).

Conclusions: The CLDH programme demonstrated a notable significance in improving creating leadership competencies among the healthcare professionals thereby a transferable intervention programme for improving digital health transformation.