Assessment of Internal Environment of Hospitals at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Based on Wiseboard Model; 2016

Understanding the condition of internal environment of a hospital offers a starting point plan to improve hospital performance. The present study aimed to assess the internal environment of hospitals at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences based on Wiseboard model.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 on 360 employees from hospitals at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences selected through stratified-random sampling method. Standardized Wisebord questionnaire was used for data collection. The status of each of the seven dimensions of the internal environment of hospitals was evaluated using 35 questions with seven options in Likert scale. The mean less than four was evaluated as weak, equal to four as neutral, and above four as strong status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods and Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
The condition of internal environment of the studied hospitals was evaluated as weak in terms of communication, neutral for structure, and strong for purposing, rewards, leadership, coordination, and attitude for change. There was a statistically significant relationship between structure and type of employment, purposing, coordination and field work, and coordination, rewards and marital status.
Generally, the condition of internal environment of the studied hospitals was strong. The status of relationship and structure which were in weak and neutral conditions could be improved by modifying the organizational structure of hospitals and reinforcing internal relationships/ communications.