A Comparative Study of Selected Hospital-Based Health Professionals’ Perceptions of a Learning Organisation in Five South African Districts

Background/Objectives: The concept of learning organisations, which rely on research-based evidence and emphasise employees’ continuous learning and professional development, is essential for effectively managing change and enhancing the quality of services. To better understand the effects of implementing learning organisation principles in hospital settings, this study aimed to compare the perceptions of selected health professionals regarding learning organisations across five sub-districts in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design to collect data from selected health professionals in 9 hospitals in Eastern Cape province. Results: Overall, the study showed wide variations in how different healthcare professionals perceived the commitment and communication of department leaders regarding the importance of learning. Key findings showed that 90.9% of dentists agreed that department leaders communicate the importance of learning. In comparison, 68.8% of allied health professionals and 56.5% of pharmacists agreed that department leaders communicated the importance of learning; 21.7% of pharmacists and 25% of allied health professionals disagreed. Conclusions: The study has highlighted significant disparities in the perceptions of selected hospital-based health professionals toward introducing a learning organisation in healthcare facilities. This divergence points to the need for tailored approaches in communicating and implementing LO strategies within hospital settings to ensure that all health professionals are equally engaged and that the benefits of continuous learning are fully realised across disciplines.