Strategies for creating a sustainable innovation culture in healthcare institutions: A private hospital in Istanbul

In this study, the relationships between employees' perceptions of innovation culture, their demographic characteristics, and the sub-dimensions of innovation culture were comprehensively examined in a private hospital in Istanbul. The main purpose of the research is to reveal how innovation culture is perceived in healthcare institutions, which factors affect this perception, and to contribute to the development of strategies for fostering innovation culture. The study population consisted of all employees of the relevant hospital, and the sample was composed of 150 participants from different occupational groups, selected using stratified sampling. Participants' age, gender, marital status, education level, occupational group, total work experience, tenure at the institution, and innovation training status were analyzed. The data were collected using the Innovation Culture Scale adapted into Turkish by AKSAY (2011) and a demographic information form. The data were analyzed with SPSS software. Factor analysis results showed that the scale consists of seven sub-dimensions and explains 68.4% of the total variance. Correlation analysis revealed positive and significant relationships among all sub-dimensions of innovation culture. Multiple regression analysis indicated that especially innovation practices and organizational participation sub-dimensions have the strongest impact on overall innovation culture. The results showed that demographic variables such as gender, age, marital status, education level, occupational group, total work experience, and tenure at the institution did not have a significant effect on innovation culture scores. On the other hand, employees who received innovation training had significantly higher innovation culture scores compared to those who did not. These findings emphasize the importance of training and institutional support mechanisms in fostering innovation culture within healthcare organizations. The results of the study provide valuable insights for practices and managerial decisions aimed at establishing a sustainable innovation culture in the healthcare sector.