Erikoistuvien lääkärien johtamisopinnot osana terveydenhuollon johtamisen kehittämistä

Since August 2009, the specialization phase of Finnish medical doctors and dentists in all specialization programs has included compulsory (minimum) 10 ECTS management studies. The aim of the study is to describe the practical im-plementation of the compulsory management studies (10 ECTS) included in the specialisation studies of medical doctors and dentists, to assess the management studies received by specializing physicians, and to study the perceptions of the newly-qualified specialists about their management competence. Because there were no dentists among the sub-study respondents, this thesis examines the cur-riculum reform, practical application, and further development (over the period 2009-2023) of the compulsory management and leadership studies of specialist training programs for medical doctors.
In this descriptive study, the principles and practices of multi-method research were applied to achieve the most versatile and authentic description and practice-serving synthesis of the research findings. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods in parallel. The curriculum reform and practical implementa-tion of specializing physicians’ management studies were researched using qualita-tive data and an applied case study strategy. With two different surveys, we exam-ined both the physicians' assessment of the amount of management studies in-cluded in their training and the newly-qualified specialists' assessments of the man-agement and leadership studies they completed, their understanding of their own management competence and their leadership role.

The reform of management studies was carried out in accordance with national core teaching themes. The studies were implemented, at minimum, as 10 ECTS, in all other Finnish universities with a medical faculty except for University of Helsinki, starting from August 2009. In Helsinki, the studies were implemented at 30 ECTS from August 2009 through December 2017, after which they also transi-tioned into the 10-ECTS model. The curriculum reform for management and leadership studies of specializing physicians significantly increased the scope of those programmes, as previously specializing students only completed 20 hours of management training.

Specializing physicians and newly-qualified specialists consider the management and leadership studies included in their training to be necessary and appropriate and have a positive attitude towards management studies. Nearly 40% of newly-qualified specialists reported that they were satisfied with the reformed manage-ment and leadership training they received during the specialization phase. The majority (83%) of all respondents were interested in being a leader in the future, men more often than women. However, many of the respondents (74%) felt that the amount of management studies was too low, and that they needed more man-agement and leadership training. Human resources management, health care economy, legislation, organizational management, and social and healthcare sys-tems were named as the most important areas requiring the development of one's own management competence.
Curriculum reform in the management studies of specializing physicians can be considered a successful developmental step in increasing the management compe-tence of specialists. Young doctors value good leadership skills, are critical of the quality of leadership, and want to improve their own competence in leadership skills alongside their clinical expertise. Management studies is the only study mod-ule where those specializing in all fields meet each other around the same studies, so they also promote networking in working life. When assessing the importance of specialized management studies, one should also note the importance of the leadership skills among the members of the work community, as leadership is built on cooperation.
Despite its successes, the current 10 ECTS programme of management studies included in specialization programs remains limited in scope in relation to the set objectives of management studies. The same is true when assessed by the man-agement competence achieved with the studies, and in terms of health care man-agement. The quality of management education and its development to meet the needs of working life should be further invested in, as the competent and good management of health care organisations also contributes to ensuring the best possible and safest care for patients.