title: Service impact of a national clinical leadership development programme: findings from a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study reported here was part of a larger study, which evaluated a national clinical leadership development programme with reference to resources, participant experiences, participant outcomes and service impact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the programme's service impact.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical leadership development develops competencies that are expressed in context. The outcomes of clinical leadership development occur at individual, departmental and organisational levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methods used to evaluate the service impact were focus groups, group interviews and individual interviews. Seventy participants provided data in 18 separate qualitative data collection events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data contained numerous accounts of service development activities, initiated by programme participants, which improved service and/or improved the culture of the work setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical leadership development programmes that incorporate a deliberate service impact element can result in identifiable positive service outcomes. The nuanced relationship between leader development and service development warrants further investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that clinical leadership development can impact on service in distinct and identifiable ways. Clinical leadership development programmes should focus on the setting in which the leadership competencies will be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fealy
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinlan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*
keywords: clinical leadership; evaluation; outcomes; programme; service