Rethinking How to Measure Organizational Culture in the Hospital Setting

Abstract

Like all organizations, health care delivery systems must be concerned with understanding the implicit beliefs, values, and assumptions extant within the organization that ubiquitously motivate and shape the behavior of participating members. The Hospital Culture Scale (HCS) was designed as a way to assess the unique culture of hospital organizations. The HCS demonstrated high discriminant validity and reliability when applied to all members (patients, nurses, and physicians) of this particular organization. Data provided from different hospital organizations indicated that the HCS could differentiate between a variety of hospitals. Physicians, nurses, and patients were also compared. Although there was agreement between nurses and patients on how scale items are used, there were disagreements when these organizational members were compared to physicians. Differences between hospital members on the overall perception of hospital culture were found. The implications and utility of the HCS are discussed.

The influence of hospital organizational culture on organizational commitment among nursing executives

“…In this study, the hospital organizational culture is centered around the idea that, "health care delivery systems must be concerned with understanding the implicit beliefs, values, and assumptions extant within the organization that ubiquitously motivate and shape the behavior of participating members" (Klingle et al, 1995).…”

“…The hospital culture scale (HCs) was designed to assess the unique culture of hospital organizations (Klingle et al, 1995). The hospital culture scale (HCs) implemented in this study was developed by Klingle et al (1995).…”

“…The hospital culture scale (HCs) implemented in this study was developed by Klingle et al (1995). All items are rated using a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (Very strongly disagree) to 5 (Very strongly agree).…”

Survey on academic medicine culture, enablers & barriers in a newly formed academic department in Singapore

“…These dimensions were felt by the leadership of the department to be important for the transition to academic unit to survey and to work on. Various surveys relating to holistic overview of clinical medicine [2][3][4]15] were studied. A survey questionnaire was developed based on the ground feedbacks and focus group discussions as mentioned earlier, to assess the perception of staff and faculty in the 13 dimensions identified as follows (see Table 1): Survey questions were formulated based on these 13 aspects (4 questions each) in a 5-point Likert Scale (see Table 2).…”

Smoking cessation counseling with pregnant and postpartum women: a survey of community health center providers

“…Organizational theory and related studies 33,40,41 emphasize the influence of work environment and culture on workers' behaviors. Social cognitive theory also posits that behavior can be explained by reciprocal interaction between behavioral, personal, and environmental influences.…”