The Challenges of Strategic Planning in Tehran Province Hospitals

Strategy formulation and implementation in healthcare is challenging. This study aimed to examine strategic planning challenges in Tehran province hospitals. This study was a cross-sectional study which conducted in 2016. 93 hospital managers participated in the study using census sampling. Data were collected using self-administrated questionnaire with a reliability of 0.85. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and analytical tests such as Spearman correlation and regression with SPSS 19 software. The mean score of strategic planning implementation barriers in Tehran province hospitals was 2.98 out of 5.00 score. Structural barriers (3.31) and managerial barriers (2.69) were the most and least barriers of strategic planning respectively. Procedural, cultural and technical barriers had the largest impact on strategic planning implementation. Physicians’ participation in strategic planning was low. There was significant statistical correlation between managers’ commitment to strategic planning and employees' involvement in strategy implementation (p < 0.05). Tehran province hospitals encountered many barriers in implementing strategic planning. Hospital managers should overcome these barriers before strategy formulation and implementation.