Alignment of Primary Care Managers' Perceived Competencies and Job Tasks: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study investigates how primary health care center (PHCC) managers assessed their managerial knowledge and skills, and how they perceived the significance of these competencies in their job performance. It aims to identify gaps between PHCC managers' self-assessed skills, and the importance attributed to these skills, thereby highlighting areas for potential improvement. The study employed a structured questionnaire adapted from the CDC-US format and tailored to the local context. A survey of 120 medical officers-incharge of PHCCs revealed variations in their managerial perceptions based on gender, system of medicine, and managerial experiences. Team building and communication emerged as domains with the strongest alignment between perceived importance and self-assessed knowledge and skills. However, the participants acknowledged the need to strengthen competencies in leadership, planning & priority setting, problem-solving, and performance assessment. The research underscores the significance of formal management education and training to healthcare professionals across all levels. It also highlights the need for continuous evaluation to enhance management competencies in PHCC settings.