Towards a Knowledge Sharing Maturity Model for medical imaging departments

Background: Knowledge sharing in medical imaging departments is being driven by the need to improve healthcare services, develop healthcare professionals skills, and reduce repetitive mistakes. It is considered an important step in the implementation of knowledge management solutions. By following a maturity model of knowledge sharing, knowledge sharing practices can be improved. The aim of this study was to develop a maturity model knowledge sharing in medical imaging department for helping managers to assess the level of maturity for knowledge sharing practices. Objectives: In the modern healthcare institutions, improvements in healthcare professionals skills and healthcare services are often driven through practicing knowledge sharing behaviours. To understand the level of maturity of knowledge sharing, mangers can follow the indicators of maturity model knowledge sharing and its measurements in order to identify the current level and move to the next level. Methods: This study was conducted in three stages: An overview stage which highlighted the factors that affect knowledge sharing practices in medical imaging departments; an Analysis factor stage which was designed to assess the factors that affect knowledge sharing by using a concurrent mixed method approachs (questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews) in two medical imaging departments; and Structuring maturity model knowledge sharing stage, where a maturity model of knowledge sharing was developed based on the findings of the other stages. Results: The model presented in this study includes 17 indicators divided into 11 components. Those components derived from the findings of the questionnaires and semi-structured interviews that were applied in the medical imaging departments. It consists of five maturity levels: initial, aware, define, managed, and optimised. In each level were included measurements in order to help managers to assess the current level by answering to the measurements questions. Conclusion: This maturity model of knowledge sharing in medical imaging departments allows managers and policy makers to measure the maturity level of knowledge sharing in those departments. Although the model has been applied to the medical imaging departments, it might easily be modified to apply it to other institutions. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study was funded by Library of University of Manchester ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript