J. Lomas et al., DEVOLVING AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH-CARE IN CANADA PROVINCES .3. MOTIVATIONS, ATTITUDES AND APPROACHES OF BOARD MEMBERS, CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association journal, 156(5), 1997, pp. 669-676
Objective: To obtain information from the members of the boards oi dev
olved health care authorities on their motivations, attitudes and appr
oaches, to evaluate their relative orientations to the expectations of
provincial governments, local providers and community members, and to
evaluate the influence of members being employees in health care or s
ocial services and being willing to stand for election. Design: Mail s
urvey conducted in cooperation with the devolved authorities during th
e summer of 1995. Setting: Three provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and
Prince Edward Island) with established boards and 2 provinces (British
Columbia and Nova Scotia) with immature boards. Participants: All 791
members of the boards of devolved authorities in the 5 provinces, of
whom 514 (65%) responded. Outcome measures: Respondents' declared moti
vations, levels of confidence in board performance and attitudes towar
d accountability; differences between members who were willing to run
for election to boards and others and differences between members who
were employees in health care or social services and others. Results:
The main motivations of board members were an interest in health care
and a desire to be part of decision-making, and their main concern was
inadequacy of data for decision-making. Almost all (93%) felt that th
ey made good decisions, and 69% thought that they made better decision
s than those previously made by the provincial government. Most (72%)
felt that they were accountable to all of the local citizens, although
nearly 30% stated that they represented the interests of a specific g
eographic area or group. Attitudes toward their provincial governments
were polarized, with half agreeing and half disagreeing that provinci
al rules restrict the board members. The board members who were employ
ed in health care and social services and those who were willing to st
and for election did not differ substantially from their counterparts,
although potential electoral candidates were less likely than others
to feel accountable to provincial-level constituencies (such as taxpay
ers and the minister of health) and more likely to represent the inter
ests of a specific geographic area or group. Only a modest number of d
ifferences were found among members from different provinces. Conclusi
ons: Board members' strong feelings of accountability to and represent
ation of local citizens could counteract the structural influences lea
ding board members to favour the interests of provincial governments a
nd providers.