The primary purpose of this systematic literature review is to provide a global, comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of physicians’ perspectives on barriers to and facilitators of physician leadership.
This review included peer-reviewed empirical articles and dissertations/theses published in English from January 2014 to June 2024 examining the barriers to and/or facilitators of physician leadership from physicians’ perspectives, either as primary objectives or emergent findings. A comprehensive search was conducted across 10 databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus. Tools and frameworks such as the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist, PRISMA flow diagram, SPIDER, Zotero, Rayyan and mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) were used to formulate research questions, screen studies, assess methodological quality and present the results. The findings were synthesized and organized into emergent themes.
The search started with 11,691 studies and ended with a final sample of 123 articles, comprising quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods designs. Three overarching themes were identified: individual-level, organizational-level and systemic-level barriers and facilitators. A total of 11 barriers (e.g. identity conflict, inadequate leadership training, negative perceptions about the physician leader) and seven facilitators (e.g. desire for influence and change, relational and practical support, health care reforms) were identified across studies.
The findings from this review may guide researchers, policymakers and healthcare organizations to develop and implement multi-level evidence-based interventions to help motivate, support and retain physician leaders worldwide.
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first systematic review to primarily explore barriers to and facilitators of physician leadership solely from physicians’ perspectives. By analyzing 123 studies across diverse healthcare systems and contexts, this review offers a global, comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the individual, organizational and systemic factors influencing physicians’ decisions to pursue leadership.
