The impact of the Iran Health System Reform Plan on the psychological empowerment of clinical faculty members

Background. Clinical faculty members are at the forefront of providing medical services in the Iran health system reform plan. Objectives. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of the Iran health system reform plan on the psychological empowerment of clinical faculty members. Material and methods. The statistical population of this descriptive study included all clinical faculty members, with 90 members eventually participating in this study. To collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire, modelled on the PEQ standard, was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data through SPSS version 22 software. Results. The dimensions of self-determination (6.1 ± 3.79), sense of competence (5.9 ± 3.91), impact (5.7 ± 3.76) and meaning (5.2 ± 3.45), respectively, obtained the highest scores. Hence, it can be concluded that the Iran health system reform plan has played a small role in the psychological empowerment of clinical faculty members. Variables such as gender, age, education, employment history and academic status of faculty members did not have a significant effect on their empowerment (p < 0.05). However, the location (hospital type) where services are provided (p = 0.039) and the full-time work of faculty members (p = 0.03) had a significant effect on their empowerment score. Discussion and conclusions. Given the key role of clinical faculty members in the Iran health system reform plan and given the high importance of empowerment of staff to enhance their job satisfaction and improve organizational productivity, it is necessary to periodically monitor and evaluate this plan to enhance and eliminate its possible shortcomings. In this regard, providing sustainable and receivable financial resources for its continuation and elimination of injustice in payments to staff should be prioritized.