Relationship between clinical governance and hospital performance: a cross-sectional study of psychiatric hospitals in Ghana
International Journal of Health Governance
ISSN: 2059-4631
Article publication date: 27 May 2021
Issue publication date: 12 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Clinical governance (CG) is crucial for healthcare quality of care improvement and safeguarding high standards of care. Little is known about CG in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors assessed health workers' perceptions of CG and hospital performance in Ghana's psychiatric hospitals.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 230 health workers across two psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0.
Findings
The majority (59.5%) of the respondents were females. The authors found that less than five in ten respondents felt that the hospitals have adopted measures to promote quality assurance (43.2%) and research and development (43.7%). However, a little above half of the respondents felt that the hospitals have adopted measures to promote education and training (57.7%); clinical audit (52.7%); risk management (50.7%) and clinical effectiveness (68.6%). The authors also found a statistically significant association between CG and hospital performance (p < 0.05).
Research limitations/implications
There was a positive relationship between CG and hospital performance. Therefore, investing in CG may help to increase hospital performance.
Originality/value
This is the maiden study to investigate CG and hospital performance in Ghana's psychiatric hospitals and one of the few studies in Africa. This study makes a modest contribution to the global discourse on the subject matter.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the management of Pantang and Accra Psychiatric Hospitals for the warm reception and support during the data collection.
Citation
Azilaku, J.C., Abor, P.A., Abuosi, A.A., Anaba, E.A. and Titiati, A. (2021), "Relationship between clinical governance and hospital performance: a cross-sectional study of psychiatric hospitals in Ghana", International Journal of Health Governance, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 225-236. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-04-2020-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited