Leadership Research in Business and Health Care

Purpose: To summarize research on leadership in the health care and business literature and to identify the outcomes of leadership on individuals, groups, and organizations. Methods: A computerized search and review of research studies was conducted in the health care and business literature from 1970–1999. Studies were categorized and analyzed according to participants, design, primary topic area, and effects or outcomes of leadership. Findings: Most of the health care and business literature on leadership consisted of anecdotal or theoretical discussion. Only 4.4% (n=290) of 6,628 articles reviewed were data‐based. Further, the largest proportion of the research (120/290, 41.4%) was purely descriptive of the demographic characteristics or personality traits of leaders. Other studies showed the influence of leadership on subordinates (27.9%). Only 15 (5.2%) of 290 research articles include correlations of qualities or styles of leadership with measurable outcomes on the recipients of services or positive changes in organizations. Conclusions: Research on leadership in the health care and business literature to date has been primarily descriptive. Although work in the social sciences indicates that leadership styles can have a major influence on performance and outcomes, minimal transfer of this work to the health care system is evident. Limited research on leadership and health care outcomes exists, such as changes in patient care or improvements in organizational outputs. In this era of evidence‐based practice, such research, although difficult to conduct, is urgently needed.