AUTHOR=Caushaj Klevis , Czabanowska Katarzyna , Roshi Enver , Muja Herion , Burazeri Genc 

TITLE=Trend and Correlates of Leadership Competencies Among Female Health Professionals in Albania

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00109

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2019.00109

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Aim:</bold> Our aim was to assess the trends and correlates of the leadership competency level of female health professionals in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans, based on a standardized international instrument.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Two nationwide cross-sectional studies were conducted in Albania in 2014 (first wave; <italic>n</italic> = 105 women) and subsequently in 2018 (second wave; <italic>n</italic> = 121 women). A structured questionnaire was administered to all female participants aiming at self-assessing the <italic>current</italic> level of leadership competencies and the <italic>required</italic> (desirable) level of leadership competencies for their current job position. The questionnaire consisted of 52 items pertinent to eight domains. Answers for each item of the instrument ranged from 1 (“minimal competency level”) to 5 (“maximal competency level”). Overall summary scores (range: 52–260) were calculated for both the current and the required leadership competency levels in both survey rounds, based on which the gap in leadership competency level was also computed (required <italic>minus</italic> current competency level). Binary logistic regression was used to assess the correlates of the gap in leadership competency level among study participants.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, there was evidence of a positive association between the gap in leadership competency level and: workplace in urban areas (OR = 3.2, 95%CI = 1.6–6.6); work experience (OR<sub>[for 1 year increment]</sub> = 1.1, 95%CI = 1.0–1.2); first round of the survey conducted in 2014 (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.0–4.3); and, particularly, a high managerial job position/level (OR = 3.8, 95%CI = 1.6–9.3). Conversely, there was an inverse relationship with the age of women (OR<sub>[for 1 year increment]</sub> = 0.9, 95%CI = 0.8–1.0).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our study provides useful evidence about trends over time and selected correlates of the gap in leadership competencies among female health professionals in Albania. Policymakers and decision-makers in Albania and other countries should be aware of the unmet need for leadership training of female health professionals at all levels.</p>