Preferences of senior physicians for management responsibilities in German university hospitals

A growing shortage of physicians in leadership positions in hospitals has been attributed to physicians’ reluctance to take on management responsibility. To remedy the situation and make the position of chief physician appear more attractive, hospital executives require a deeper understanding of physicians’ job preferences as well as the relationship between their skills and motivations and their intention concerning a medical/leadership career. This study applies the EPL (Entrepreneurship, Professional, and Leadership) Career Aspiration Framework in the context of the career preferences of senior physicians in German hospitals. The model was adapted and validated using data from an online survey disseminated to senior physicians at German university hospitals. The findings confirm that senior physicians have a much stronger preference for a professional rather than a leadership career. Further, it was shown that skill efficacy has a positive influence, both directly, and through motivation also indirectl...