Human Resource Management Policies and Quality of Healthcare Delivery of Public Hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of Human Resource Management (HRM) policies on the quality of healthcare service delivery in public hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it evaluated the effects of recruitment policies and training and development practices on healthcare efficiency, effectiveness, and patient outcomes. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a population of 7,744 healthcare workers across 21 public hospitals. Using Yamane’s (1967) formula, a sample size of 380 was determined, while 360 valid responses were analyzed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis at a 5% significance level. The findings revealed that recruitment policies have a significant positive effect on healthcare service quality, explaining 58% of the variance in service delivery outcomes (R² = 0.580; F = 70.94; p < 0.001). Employment of qualified personnel (t = 4.00, p < 0.01), attraction of skilled professionals (t = 3.68, p < 0.01), and assessment of professional experience (t = 3.05, p < 0.01) emerged as key predictors. Similarly, training and development policies significantly influenced healthcare efficiency and effectiveness, accounting for 70.7% of the variation in service delivery (R² = 0.707; F = 78.652; p < 0.001). Professional skill development (t = 6.333, p < 0.01) was identified as the strongest predictor, alongside continuous professional development and training relevance. The study concludes that effective HRM policies are critical determinants of healthcare quality in public hospitals. It recommends strengthening merit-based recruitment systems and institutionalizing continuous training programmes to enhance service delivery and patient satisfaction.