Evaluation of the implementation of the knowledge management processes in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences teaching hospitals, 2014

Abstract

Introduction: Recognition and implementation of knowledge management have an important effect on improving the quality of hospital activities. According to the direct relationship with the society’s health, health and treatment departments need knowledgeable and skillful staff. Thus, this research investigated different dimensions of the knowledge management processes in teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2014.Method: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 103 top and middle-ranked managers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences hospitals. The instrument was a valid and reliable questionnaire containing six knowledge management dimensions. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 16, using the one-sample t-test and ANOVA.Results: The results of the study showed that among the processes of knowledge management dimensions, “acquisition and knowledge creation”(mean=3.2) and “strategy and policy of knowledge” (mean=3.13) had the highest ranks and “assessment and feedback of knowledge” (mean=2.86) and “knowledge sharing” (mean=2.61) were at the lowest levels. The comparison between these six dimensions demonstrated that there were significant relationships among “strategy and policy of knowledge” and “acquisition and knowledge creation” (p=0.047),“strategy and policy of knowledge” and “organizing and documenting of knowledge” (p=0.206), “organizing and documenting of knowledge” and “knowledge sharing” (p=0.259), “organizing and documenting of knowledge” and “use and reuse of knowledge” (p=0.325), “use and reuse of knowledge”, and “knowledge sharing” (p=0.100).Conclusion: According to the results, the conditions of “strategy and policy of knowledge” and “acquisition and knowledge creation” dimensions are at the average level and other dimensions of knowledge management processes are poor in teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Considering the importance of knowledge management in improving the performance of the hospitals and achieving the organizational goals, applying all dimensions of knowledge management especially “knowledge sharing” and “assessment and feedback of knowledge” is vital.Keywords: Knowledge management, Knowledge management dimensions, Health care organizations