title: Hospitals' readiness to implement clinical governance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of health services is one of the most important factors for delivery of these services. Regarding the importance and vital role of quality in the health sector, a concept known as "Clinical Governance" (CG) has been introduced into the health area which aims to enhance quality of health services. Thus, this study aimed to assess private and public hospitals' readiness to implement CG in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 2012. Four hundred thirty participants including doctors, nurses, diagnostic departments personnel, and support staff were chosen randomly from four hospitals (equally divided into private and public hospitals). Clinical Governance Climate Questionnaire (CGCQ) was used for data collection. Finally, data were entered into the SPSS 18 and were analyzed using statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the CG dimensions, "organizational learning" and "planned and integrated quality improvement program" scored the highest and the lowest respectively for both types of hospitals. Hospitals demonstrated the worst condition with regard to the latter dimension. Furthermore, both types of hospitals had positive picture regarding "training and development opportunities". Private hospitals scored better than public ones in all dimensions but there was only a significant difference in "proactive risk management" dimension between both types of hospitals (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitals' readiness for CG implementation was "average or weak". In order to implement CG successfully, it is essential to have a quality-centered culture, a culture specified by less paperwork, more self-sufficiency, and flexibility in hospitals' affairs as well as centring on shared vision and goals with an emphasis on continuous improvement and innovation.
authors: Hospital Management Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farbod
authors: F
authors: Ebadi Fardazar
authors: Department of Health Management and Economics, Health School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Safari
authors: Department of Health Management and Economics, Health School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Habibi
authors: Department of Health Management and Economics, Health School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Feyzollah
authors: F
authors: Akbari Haghighi
authors: Department of Health Economics, School of Health Management and Information Science, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ; Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Aziz
authors: A
authors: Rezapour
keywords: Clinical Governance (CG); Health Services; Hospital; Quality Improvement