MCH Journal Publishes NH-ME LEND Study of Trainee Leadership Development

Source: Adapted from NH-ME LEND Spotlight October 2018

The Maternal and Child Health Journal has published the results of a trainee leadership development study by four faculty members from the New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) program, and a University of New Hampshire doctoral student. The current healthcare system requires Maternal and Child Health (MCH) professionals with strong interdisciplinary leadership competence. MCH training programs utilize a conceptual framework for leadership and twelve validated MCH Leadership Competencies.

In their article, Advancing Leadership Skills: A Multiyear Examination of LEND Trainee Self-Efficacy Growth, Betsy Humphreys, Alan Kurtz, Carrie Portrie, Leslie Couse and Fatemeh Hajnaghizadeh examined NH-ME LEND trainees’ perceived leadership competence to inform a better understanding of leadership development. Five cohorts of  trainees (n = 102) completed the MCH Leadership Competencies Self-Assessment at three time points.

This study concluded that on average, cohorts began the year with very different evaluations of their leadership competence but finished the year with similar scores. This suggests participation in the NH-ME LEND Program consistently supported the development of leadership self-identity. Small sample sizes limit the ability to draw definitive conclusions from these results. Further study with a larger sample may reveal relationships between cohort characteristics and change scores.