Title: Finnish primary care leaders' perceptions of leadership in digital health services: an inductive content analysis

Authors: Elina Laukka; Tarja Pölkki; Tarja Heponiemi; Outi Kanste

Addresses: Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Health and Social Service System Research Group, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland ' Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland ' Health and Social Service System Research Group, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland ' Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland

Abstract: The role of leadership in how digital health services are managed has not been extensively covered. Most of the research concerning leadership in digital services has concentrated on digital service implementation, which represents only one element of leadership. Thus, further research is needed to provide a comprehensive description of leadership in digital services. This study aimed to describe primary care leaders' perceptions of leadership in digital health services. A descriptive qualitative study involving 21 semi-structured interviews was conducted with Finnish primary care leaders in different leadership positions. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The following six main categories were formed: strategic leadership; operative leadership; transformational leadership; competence leadership; remote leadership; and leading collaboration and co-creation. The present research has shown that healthcare leaders require education that will provide adequate digital health capability to face today's complex, and constantly changing, digital healthcare environment.

Keywords: leadership; digital; health services; semi-structured interviews; content analysis; primary care.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2022.128193

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2022 Vol.19 No.3/4, pp.280 - 302

Received: 05 Jan 2022
Accepted: 29 May 2022
Published online: 11 Jan 2023 *

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