Abstract:
Hospitals play a significant role in health systems. Studies among the health workforce
have revealed their experiences with mental health challenges. In comparison, there is limited
literature on their positive mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore senior managers’
experiences with health status, happiness, and motivation in hospitals and the perceived impact
on the health system in Kenya. This qualitative study applied a phenomenological research design.
Senior managers within the hospital management teams were selected using purposive sampling.
Semi-structured interviews were carried out among senior managers across eleven hospitals in Meru
County, Kenya. Among the eleven participants 63.6% were female and 36.4%, were male and the
mean age was 44.5 years. The audio-taped data were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s
phenomenological approach. The five themes revealed were: (1) Happiness in the health system;
(2) Health status in the health system; (3) Motivation in the health system; (4) Challenges in the
health system; (5) Possible solutions to the challenges in the health system. This study revealed
the positive and negative impact of the three domains, challenges, and solutions, from the senior
managers’ perspective. Healthy, happy, and motivated senior managers and healthcare workers are
more responsive and perform better. Policy interventions and programs promoting happiness, health
status, and motivation are necessary for strengthening the health workforce and health system.
