title: Are some health professionals more cognizant of clinical governance development concepts than others? Findings from a New Zealand study.
abstract: Clinical governance has been promoted in recent years as core to improving patient safety. Effective clinical governance requires partnerships between 'management' and health professionals as well as equal involvement of all professional groups. Professionals must also be willing to engage in clinical governance activities such as working to improve care systems and patient safety. There is limited research into the relative understanding of core clinical governance concepts amongst different professional groups or the extent to which professionals are prepared to take up opportunities to 'change the system'.
  
  
  
  A 2012 national survey study of health professionals employed in New Zealand health boards sought to probe understanding of and commitment to clinical governance following introduction of a 2009 policy.
  
  
  
  Respondent data showed only limited policy implementation had occurred. Regression analyses revealed statistically significant differences in perceptions of knowledge of clinical governance concepts and structures by gender, age, experience and profession, as well as in seeking opportunities to change the system.
  
  
  
  These findings have implications for policy makers in terms of ensuring that clinical governance implementation provides equal opportunity for engendering involvement of different health professionals.
authors: Centre for Health Systems, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Gauld
authors: Centre for Health Systems, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Horsburgh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D054976:Clinical Governance; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D009520:New Zealand; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: New Zealand; clinical governance; health professionals; patient safety; proportional odds mixed modelling; survey