The mediating role of job satisfaction and competitive advantage between quality management practices and sustainable performance: Case of hospitals in Guangxi, China

BACKGROUND Ensuring medical quality and safety is the perpetual focus of healthcare management. Hospitals must prioritize quality management for sustainable growth. However, the complexity of quality management in hospitals, coupled with evolving practices, presents challenges. Achieving the integration of economic, environmental, and social benefits for high-quality development remains difficult. While quality management practices are acknowledged as strategic tools, their impact on job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance is not yet fully understood. OBJECTIVE The objective of this research was to empirically demonstrate the relationship between quality management practices, job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance. METHODS The study uses a quantitative research method. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Guangxi, China, among 171 quality management executives in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and the proposed research model was validated using PLS-SEM. RESULTS The results showed that quality management practices have positive direct and indirect effects on sustainable performance, confirming the partial mediating role of job satisfaction, and competitive advantage in the relationship between quality management practices and sustainable performance. CONCLUSIONS This study addresses a gap in quality management literature by exploring the relationship between quality management practices, job satisfaction, competitive advantage, and sustainable performance. Findings reveal that higher implementation of quality management practices correlates with increased job satisfaction, stronger competitive advantage, and enhanced sustainable performance in hospitals. These results suggest that implementing quality management practices can boost job satisfaction, enhance competitive advantage, and promote sustainable performance, offering valuable insights for hospital leaders.