How Employees in a Comprehensive Public Hospital Perceive Corruption Risks: A Survey Study in China

Abstract

Purpose: To examine how employees perceive corruption risks in their hospital and to provide recommendations for good governance in that hospital. Methods: The “Questionnaire of Corruption Risk Perception Index in Public Hospitals” was designed and a questionnaire survey was conducted online from April 17 to 30, 2020 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, to explore employees’ assessment of corruption risk. Employees were asked to evaluate the likelihood and impact of corruption risk to form a corruption risk perception index (CRPI). Related factors were examined in multifactor analysis. Results: A total of 5525 employees participated in the survey. Among all 15 kinds of risks, unreasonable personnel changes (CRPI=8.24), no collective discussion about important issues (CRPI=7.95), and violating the individual moral character (CRPI=7.85) were the top 3 ones that participants rated highest, while illegal procurement (CRPI=7.38), violating teaching ethics (CRPI=7.12) and medical ethics (CRPI=6.93) were rated lowest. Corruption risks were mainly concentrated in internal management, treatment regulation, professional conduct, and external cooperation. The OR value that the CRPI of leaders was 0.768 times that of ordinary employees (95% CI: 0.623–0.945, χ2=6.189, P=0.013). Fluke ideas were the most selected personal reason for corruption. Suggestions for strengthening the education of corruption risk were mentioned most. Conclusion: The results indicate the emphasis and direction of hospital management. First, WCH needs to pay attention to the construction and dynamic improvement of the hospital’s internal management regulations and external cooperation management regulations, and increase the transparency of decision-making and implementation. Second, it is necessary to restrict the discretion of leaders at all levels and strengthen supervision. In addition, WCH needs to carry out education from the perspectives of power awareness and corruption cost, and to strive to build a clean, honest culture.