Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Transformational-Style Leadership Development Program (LDP) in Fostering Leadership Skills in Medical Students, a PretestPosttest Study

Background: Effective leadership is crucial for successful healthcare organizations, and leadership development programs (LDPs) can help physicians develop the necessary skills for this purpose. LDPs aim to build leadership capacities, values, and behaviors, and are essential for addressing challenges in healthcare, such as patient safety and clinician burnout. Different types of LDPs have been described based on different leadership styles. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a transformational-leadership based LDP tailored to medical students. Methods: A pretest-posttest design was used in this study and 30 students enrolled themselves voluntarily in the leadership program. A comprehensive transformational-leadership style LDP titled “HEALTHLEAD: Transforming Leadership in Medicine” was designed and delivered by the authors. A questionnaire based on the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form 6S (MLQ-6S) was used as the data collection tool and the data were collected at three points in time; before, immediately after, and two months after the program. Results: Data of 30 participants were analyzed and reported. Repeated measures ANOVA, with time as a within-subject factor, showed a significant effect on mean scores, F(2, 28) = 27.281, p<0.001, indicating an increase in leadership scores over time. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant mean differences between pretest and posttest (0.586, p<0.001) and pretest and twomonths follow-up (0.775, p<0.001), but a non-significant mean difference between the two-month follow-up and posttest (0.189, p=0.143). Conclusion: The leadership development program “HEALTHLEAD” had a significantly positive impact in fostering leadership skills in medical students. The increase in scores suggests that the program had a comprehensive and lasting effect.