Impact of a pilot leadership development programme for rural and remote primary care physicians in Aceh, Indonesia: a Kirkpatrick level 3 evaluation

Background While physicians are crucial to rural or remote healthcare systems, they are rarely trained as effective leaders, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries context. We conducted a 2-day workshop using the LEADS framework to assess whether rural or remote primary care physicians in Aceh, Indonesia, benefited from the leadership development programme and how their professional behaviour changed 6months post-workshop. Methods We applied a mixed-methods study. 10 rural and remote primary care physicians who attended the 2-day workshop were interviewed using a self-reported questionnaire (Kirkpatrick level 3A). We also applied Kirkpatrick level 3B evaluation using qualitative reports from 10 of our workshop participants colleagues and a quantitative survey from 50 colleagues in primary care, including superiors, peers and paramedics, with a 13-item questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. The interview transcriptions were analysed thematically, while the survey questionnaire results were analysed descriptively. Results After the workshop, participants self-reported improvements in three areas: (1) communication, (2) solving collaboration and (3) patient and community engagement. Through their colleagues reports, participants improved in three areas: (1) communication, (2) leading figure and (3) inclusivity. Although the data suggested had benefits on the participants professional behaviour needed in the workplace, further research is needed to support this. Conclusions Given the reported positive impact of the workshop on the participants professional behaviour, leadership development programmes need to be an integral part of rural and remote healthcare delivery workforce development. Such programmes may be crucial for cultivating physician leaders who are adaptable to diverse contexts. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.