THE ASSOCIATION OF LEADERSHIP STYLES, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT ON QUALITY OF CARE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS: A LINEAR REGRESSION ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study examined the association between leadership styles, organizational culture, employee engagement, and quality of care in healthcare settings. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed, with data collected from 420 healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, and allied health staff across public and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Validated instruments were used to measure leadership styles, organizational culture, employee engagement, and quality of care. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictive relationships between the three independent variables and the dependent variable. The findings revealed that employee engagement emerged as the strongest predictor of quality of care (β = 0.246, p = 0.004), followed by leadership styles (β = 0.173, p = 0.033). Organizational culture demonstrated a positive but non-significant association with quality of care (β = 0.146, p = 0.057). The model significantly predicted quality of care, explaining a substantial proportion of variance in the outcome variable. These results highlight the critical importance of fostering employee engagement and developing effective leadership practices to enhance healthcare quality outcomes. Healthcare organizations should prioritize interventions that promote employee engagement, invest in leadership development programs, and cultivate supportive organizational environments. The findings contribute empirical evidence to the growing body of international literature on organizational determinants of healthcare quality and offer practical insights for healthcare managers and policymakers in the Middle Eastern context.