A study of the administrative tasks and functions of the director of biomedical communications as perceived by the director and his administrative superior

Abstract

The purposes of this study were threefold: (1)to verify and clarify a set of administrative tasks and functions common to directors of biomedical communications, (2)to compare the perceptions of the directors and their administrative superiors regarding the relative frequency that these tasks are performed by directors of biomedical communications relative to a given set of administrative functions, and 3) determine if the administrative tasks and functions verified are congruent with those which have been identified in comparable studies. To pursue this study, an existing survey instrument was modified, validated by a five member jury of experts, and sent to the membership of the Association of Biomedical Communications Directors and their administrative superiors. The instrument contained a matrix of 24 administrative tasks and five administrative functions. The directors of biomedical communications were asked to rate how frequently they do perform, and how frequently they should perform, the task while engaged in each of the five functions. The administrative superiors were asked to rate how frequently the directors of biomedical communications should perform the tasks relative to the five functions. The effective response rate was 55 percent for the directors and 47 percent for their administrative superiors. ...