title: A survey of the medical and dental consultants' management skills in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
abstract: Good management/administration is vital in the realisation of any business objective whether in a private or public establishment. The aims of this study were to assess the level of knowledge and ability on management/administrative skills by Medical/Dental consultants as perceived by themselves; to stimulate more interest in management/administrative skills acquisition, and to suggest possible ways in achieving such skills by doctors. A self-evaluation questionnaire was distributed to the doctors and 88 of them completed and returned their forms. They consisted of 55 (62.5%) males and 33 (37.5%) females cutting across all the specialities in medicine and dentistry in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. In all, 42 (47.7%) of the respondents reported that they had good ability of management/administration while 46 (52.3%) were below average. Of the 55 males, 28 (31.8%) had good ability while 27 (30.7%) were below average. Fourteen (15.9%) of the females had good ability while (21.6%) were below average. Good knowledge was assumed by 41 (46.6%) of the respondents while 47 (53.4%) were below average. Twenty-seven (30.7%) of the males showed good knowledge as against 14 (15.9%) of the females. Twenty-eight (31.8%) of the males were below average as against 19 (21.6%) of the female respondents. The sex differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The surgeons significantly (P<0.05) claimed better knowledge of management/administrative skills than physicians though their claim of ability to perform was higher too but significant (P>0.05). The percentage of the consultants with good knowledge and ability was found to increase with increasing age except for those under 40 years of age. The differences were not significant (P>0.05). A strong positive correlation (r=0.948; P<0.001) was found between ability and knowledge. Knowledge of the respondents was found to be good predictor of the ability using the regression equation: Ability = 11.151 + 0.835 (Knowledge). Suggestions on possible way forward were made. It was concluded that improving the knowledge of the doctors while in training on management/administrative skills will positively affect their performance abilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Onyeaso
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Arowojulo
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Obiechina
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olumide
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003798:Dental Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009934:Organization and Administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires