Saudi Medical Students Show Moderate Leadership Competence; Gender and GPA Predict Skills

A cross-sectional study conducted among medical students at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia revealed that participants possess a moderate to high level of self-perceived leadership competence, with specific strengths noted in responsible behavior and teamwork. The research, which utilized the 37-item Medical Leadership Competency Scale (MeLeCoS), assessed 191 students and found that while overall competence was generally perceived as adequate, academic performance and gender were significant predictors of these skills. The study underscores the critical need for structured leadership development programs within undergraduate medical curricula to enhance the capacity of future physicians.

The investigation employed a proportionate stratified sampling technique to ensure representation across various academic years among the medical students at the College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Data collection relied on a structured questionnaire that incorporated demographic characteristics alongside the MeLeCoS. This scale is designed to evaluate six distinct domains of leadership competence: self-management, responsible behavior, teamwork, managing services, innovation in undergraduate education, and systemic perspectives. The findings indicated that the overall mean leadership competence score for the participants was 3.72 ± 0.58, suggesting a moderate to high level of perceived capability across the cohort. A detailed analysis of the MeLeCoS domains revealed that responsible behavior and teamwork demonstrated the highest levels of competence among the students, whereas the domain of innovation in undergraduate education registered the lowest score, pointing to potential areas for curriculum enhancement.

Further statistical analysis revealed significant demographic and academic associations with leadership competence. Specifically, female students reported significantly higher leadership competence scores compared to their male counterparts (p = 0.001). Beyond gender, academic performance, measured by GPA, was found to be positively correlated with leadership competence (r = 0.217, p = 0.006). Utilizing multiple linear regression analysis, the study identified both gender (β = 0.256, p = 0.002) and GPA (β = 0.201, p = 0.010) as statistically significant predictors of leadership competence among the student population. This suggests that both individual academic success and gender play measurable roles in the development of perceived leadership skills within this specific cohort.

The study, which included a total of 191 medical students (representing an overall response rate of 59.5%), provided valuable insights into the current state of leadership development in Saudi medical education. The mean age of the participants was recorded at 21.76 ± 1.53 years, and the mean GPA across the sample was 4.32 ± 0.63. The findings highlight that while many students perceive themselves as possessing a moderate to high level of leadership skills, there is a clear opportunity to refine educational strategies. The observed strengths in responsible behavior and teamwork, alongside the identified weaknesses in innovation in undergraduate education, offer concrete targets for curriculum reform. The identification of gender and GPA as significant predictors provides a basis for tailored educational interventions that might leverage or address these observed trends.

Subject of Research: Assessment of self-perceived leadership competencies among medical students at King Faisal University using the Medical Leadership Competency Scale (MeLeCoS).

Article Title: Assessment of leadership competence among medical students in Saudi Arabia using the MeLeCoS scale: a cross-sectional study

Article References: Alnajjar, J. S., Almarzooq, M. A., Al Dandan, A. M., & Almaqhawi, A. (2026). Assessment of leadership competence among medical students in Saudi Arabia using the MeLeCoS scale: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Medicine, 13, Article 1993737. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1993737

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1993737

Keywords: Medical Education, Leadership Competence, Saudi Arabia, MeLeCoS, Medical Students, Cross-sectional Study, Healthcare Professions Education, Professional Competence, Assessment, leadership, competence, medical