Investigation of the attitude of clinical diagnostic laboratories laboratory assistants to management styles – as an essential element of laboratory management

Abstract

The purpose is to explore the attitude of laboratory assistants from healthcare institutions in Ternopil to different management styles and to identify its probable dependence on the age category of respondents. Matherials and methods. A sociological survey was conducted of 60 laboratory assistants of which 17 – from the municipal nonprofit enterprise “Ternopil Regional Clinical Psychoneurological Hospital” of the Ternopil Regional Council, 19 – from the Ternopil Regional Clinical Hospital, 14 – from the municipal non-profit enterprise “Ternopil Municipal City Hospital No. 2”, 10 – from the municipal non-profit enterprise "Ternopil City Municipal Emergency Hospital". Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using computer software Microsoft Excel and STATISTICA 12.0. Results. A statistically significant influence of the age category of laboratory assistants on their attitude towards different management styles was established. In particular, it was found that the tendency towards an authoritarian management style (confidence in the need for constant monitoring by management over the quality of work performed (χ2=13.44;p=0.037); fear of discussions on controversial issues if they could lead to conflicts (χ2=20.97; p=0.002); unwillingness to come up with certain initiatives (χ2=30.87; p<0.001)) is more characteristic of middle-aged (45–59 years old) and elderly (60 years and older) laboratory assistants, while young laboratory assistants (18–44 years) ) are more inclined to a democratic management style. Conclusions. The data obtained are the basis for the development of measures to optimize the management of laboratory assistants (taking into account the age composition) of clinical diagnostic laboratories, which will increase the quality and efficiency of the laboratory diagnostic service of the studied healthcare institutions in Ternopil.