Title: The roles of primary care middle managers in the implementation of eHealth in Finland: a qualitative interview study

Authors: Emma-Linda Niskasaari; Elina Laukka; Outi Kanste

Addresses: Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5A, 90230 Oulu, Finland ' Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5A, 90230 Oulu, Finland ' Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Aapistie 5A, 90230 Oulu, Finland

Abstract: Background: Healthcare middle managers play a critical role in the implementation of innovations as their actions and behaviours affect the success of implementation. Nevertheless, healthcare middle managers' experiences of their involvement in eHealth implementation remain an understudied topic. Aim: To describe and understand primary care middle managers' roles in eHealth implementation. Methods: A descriptive qualitative interview study was conducted. A total of 10 Finnish primary care middle managers were interviewed in 2020. The data were analysed through inductive content analysis. Findings: Primary care middle managers in Finland perform tasks that fall under support, implementation advancement, managerial, and informational roles. The interactions between these roles may be highly complex when the implementation is part of a national scheme involving numerous organisations. Conclusion: A clear, comprehensive understanding of the roles of middle managers, as well as the linkages between these roles, is critical to creating best practices for eHealth implementation.

Keywords: manager role; middle manager; primary care; primary healthcare; healthcare management; implementation; eHealth; implementation management; Finland; interview; content analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2022.123582

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2022 Vol.19 No.1, pp.60 - 76

Received: 09 Jan 2021
Accepted: 02 Jul 2021
Published online: 28 Jun 2022 *

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