The Link Between Participation in Management Decision-Making and Quality of Patient Care as Perceived by Chinese Doctors

Abstract

This study examined whether and how participation by doctors in management decision-making was associated with patient care. A questionnaire survey was conducted in three hospitals operating in China. Staff members of the selected hospitals were invited to participate in the survey, measuring perceived quality of patient care, employee participation in management decisions, psychological empowerment and affective commitment. This study focuses on the results of the 160 doctors employed by the hospitals who completed the questionnaire. The study found that psychological empowerment and affective commitment mediated the relationship between participation in management decisions and the quality of patient care as perceived by the doctors. Implications are drawn for public management practice in Chinese health care settings.