Factors influencing whistle-blowing in the Iranian health system

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute whistle-blowing in the Iranian health system and also to develop a model for these factors. Four factors were identified by reviewing the relevant literature including organizational culture factors, organizational factors, materiality of wrongdoing, and individual factors. Because of the local focus of this study, the items of each contributing factor were identified by employing Delphi method. Delphi method was conducted four times and 33 items. Subsequently, the model of factors was designed by DEMATEL technique for the first time in the Iranian context. To test the model, a questionnaire with 52 questions was designed, validated, and distributed among target population. Afterward, the model was tested by applying SEM. The final results indicated that the organizational culture, organizational factors, and materiality of wrongdoing have affected whistle-blowing significantly. However, the effect of individual factor was not significant.

KEYWORDS:

• Materiality of wrongdoing
• organizational culture
• organizational factors
• whistle-blowing

Notes

1. Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory.

2. Structural Equation Modeling.

3. Content validity ratio.

4. Content validity index.

5. Goodness-of-fit index.

6. Comparative fit index.

7. Incremental Fit Index.

8. Tucker–Lewis Index.

9. Root mean square error of approximation.