Knowledge, practice and faith on Total Quality Management principles among workers in the Health Care System: evidence from an Italian investigation.
BACKGROUND
The implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) principles in the sanitary field, in order to be effective, requires a radical change in management practice as well as the organizational culture and its philosophy. The need to monitor such a transformation emerges too.


OBJECTIVE
This study surveys how well TQM principles are known and understood by health care professionals from the employees' point of view and the factors affecting it.


METHODS
The Health Care System in Trieste was surveyed.


METHODS
The Total Quality Test was used, a novel and quick instrument aimed at routine assessment of the penetration and interiorization of TQM principles within the health care structure.


RESULTS
Direct exposure to public, job role and time spent working within the same structure have been proved related to the penetration of TQM principles, whereas previous formative intervention did not prove to be associated with the penetration of TQM principles.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of a quick and simple instrument to monitor the TQM implementation highlighted several critical areas for intervention.
Gregori
Dario
D
Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. dario.gregori@unito.it
Napolitano
Giampaolo
G
Scarinzi
Cecilia
C
Semeraro
Arianna
A
Rosato
Rosalba
R
Pagano
Eva
E
Zigon
Giulia
G
Gabassi
Piergiorgio
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*