Nowadays, globalization and instant access to information have changed the way business works. Therefore, from now on, the highly competitive and transparent market environment should be prepared quickly to foster the organizations that have superior technical and managerial skills [1] [2].

Quality, process variation reduction, and customer satisfaction have become the top priorities of all organizations. Worldwide, healthcare organizations face many challenges concerning cost, quality, and patients’ satisfaction since healthcare is considered a full of discrepancies and complicated process. Therefore, healthcare organizations have been widely adopted systematic innovation approaches to remain up-to-date, competitive, and cost-saving [3].

If an organization is not capable of introducing innovations on an ongoing basis, it risks that it will lag behind and the initiative will be taken over by other entities [4]. Hence, to achieve long-term sustainability, healthcare organizations need continued improvement in a high-disciplined strategy based on reviewing and rectifying processes errors, dedication to customer satisfaction, involving all bodies in the work processes, as appropriate, and other value-adding activities [3]. Therefore, healthcare organizations attempt to apply the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) approach in order to improve the quality of services, increase customer satisfaction level, lower operational costs, increase profits, and achieve success in healthcare services delivery. It should be pointed out, that integrating Six Sigma approach including “Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control” (DMAIC) with Lean Thinking has multiplied force in the organizational management [5].

Indeed, healthcare organizations have started applying the LSS approach after it was fully established, tested, and confirmed by many firms in the manufacturing sector such as Motorola and General Electric [6]. Lean thinking is one of the most recent conceptions in the manufacturing sector and its transition to being applicable in healthcare organizations is a relatively new phenomenon, since Brandao de Souza, (2009) was the first mentioned reference of application of Lean approach in the healthcare system by Local Government Modernization, the United Kingdom in 2001 [7].

The Lean and Six Sigma approach is a recent concept aims to the continuous improvement of healthcare services, as it has not been conclusively established in the academic research yet. The concept of Lean Six Sigma was incepted because of East-West rivalry and communication about measuring the efficiency of customer satisfaction. Besides, it represents the world’s best-experience tested wisdom about using the least to produce the best [8] [9]. Sigma is the 18th letter in the Greek alphabets, and statisticians have used this symbol to denote standard deviation. It is a notion of a management philosophy that goals reducing variation and defects in a process. SS is based on reducing defects by 3.4 opportunities per million is the target level of performance [10]. As well as, Pepper and Spedding (2010) illustrated that the cornerstone of the Lean concept is the relentless elimination of waste through the calibration of processes and all employees should be involved in process improvement [11].

Rely on previous research Lean and Six Sigma have a complementary relationship with each other in improving the quality of services by reducing costs and wastes, so health care institutions try to apply this methodology to achieve its goals. In 2000, the management of Red Cross Hospital, Netherlands implemented an LSS approach, Based on the LSS approach, the management was able to solve these problems and save ?6,000 per year from unnecessary costs and waste [12]. Taner and Sezen, (2007) debated five case studies about SS methodology implementation in health care: declining avoidable laboratory tests, Refining Magnetic Resonance (MR) image quality, decreasing waiting times before surgery, reducing catheter infections and decreasing the excess length of stay in hospitals [13], additionally Xerox Corp. manufacturing and supply chain operations. In healthcare engineering, DSI laboratories used LSS methodologies to reduce waste and variation in the clinical laboratory. The net result was savings of more than $ 400,000 in the first year. As well as Myocardial Infarction (MI) door-to-balloon process decreased by 58.4% and developed less than the ACC/AHA standard (90 min). Process cycle efficiency increased from 32.27 to 51.81%, and the average days of hospital stay decreased by 3 days. Such effects helped save NT$ 4.422 million in the medical resource. This means that LSS not only improved medical quality but also strengthened market competitiveness [14].

Another trend for LSS methodology was implemented at the Health Information Department (HID) of a Medical College hospital in India that describes improvements in the HID cycle time of the process registration was reduced from three to 1.5 minutes. It also informed a 91% reduction in queue length and a 48% drop in the percentage of scheduled use of staff for the process [15].

A systemic review was conducted to clarify the role of Lean on emergency crowded and bed hospital shortage and concluded that Lean philosophy is still unknown. Unstandardized but has a significant effect on decreased length of stay and the number of patients left without being seen, reduced costs, and increased patient satisfaction [16]. In addition, Lean and Six Sigma tools can be utilized to promote developments in quality both as a system and as a manner, the researcher focuses on the most important tools. Cavalheiro et al., (2015) clarified how lean six sigma ( LSS ) was designed as an instrument to arrange for problem-solving and continuous improvement of processes and concluded how it produces an opportunity to classify improvement, as well as the strengths of the staff and the physical therapy service process [17]. Another scope was measured at the physiotherapy domain when Bedi et al., (2015) addressed the evaluation of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) in dentists and the application of the DMAIC technique to improve the ergonomics at dental clinics concluded that using this methodology decreased MSD problems among dentists [18]. Therefore, that Brady and Allen (2012) mention Lean and Six Sigma are paired with a relationship with each other [19]. Lean Six Sigma is suitable for the leading continuous improvement technique used by companies in several industries transferred from manufacturing to health care to Information Technology [20] (Table 1).

In the Gaza strip, as an occupied region, many national and international organizations already provide physiotherapies services such as UNRWA, MOH, and other NGOs.

UNRWA is one of the vigorous and major agencies of the United Nations provide healthcare services to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip, one of these services is physiotherapy.

LSS has a unique significance in the UNRWA healthcare system since they help sharpen the employee’s work and refine his/her character to get him/her prepared to embarrass day-to-day challenges. As a result, an effectively innovative and productive person will be there on both local and international levels. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to identify the impact of Lean Six Sigma practices on physiotherapy service quality at healthcare centers of the UNRWA in the Gaza strip.

The current study showed that the LSS methodology is practiced but its concept is not clear yet. The average of all LSS dimensions means was 4.05 and the means percentage was 81.04%. Moreover, the Lean Six Sigma dimensions are applied in UNWRA healthcare centers in the Gaza Strip at significance level P < 0.05. The yielded high mean percentages indicate that LSS dimensions were really practiced in the physiotherapy units, however, the LSS approach hasn’t completely adopted (Table 2).

Consistent outcomes were found by Sabry (2014) study carried out in Lebanese hospitals in Beirut concluded that 17 out of 19 of Six-Sigma quality program implementation existed and were matched with the quality program applied in the sample [21]. Besides, there are little gaps between the actual ranks of the professionals and the actual ranks of the hospital department managers about the importance degree of critical success factors of the Six-Sigma quality program (CSFs). In addition, the study conducted in Gaza strip banks revealed that they were committed to applying the LSS methodology in Controlling Internal Auditing Quality [22]. Arafeh (2016) found that introducing the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology is a good platform tool to improve the performance of student English language at Elementary School in Amman, Gordan [23].

A consensus between the results of previous studies which stressed the effectiveness of Six Sigma successes in improving the quality of the physical therapy services [16] [17] [24].

According to mentions above all dimensions of LSS are practiced at physiotherapy units noticed that the phase Analyze has the highest ratio (88.1) which

*Critical value of t at df “42” and significance level 0.05 equal 2.02.

mean that the processes of collecting, documented then analyzed in good health system information on the other hand the phase control has the lowest ratio (69.9), therefore, the Human resources should reevaluate the performance appraisal.

We explored the association between the LSS dimensions and the quality of physiotherapy services. The overall LSS dimensions showed a significant association with the quality of physiotherapy services (Table 3). This finding is consistent with previous studies from different fields, which concluded that there is a relationship between the implementation of the SS approach and maximizing financial benefit. In addition to improving the manufacturing strategy and quality of education at universities [25] [26].

In our study, we identified that all dimensions of (LSS) together have an impact on service quality and showed the most significant dimension is (Improve) as the p-value is <0.05. Owing to P.T, service which is applied in a unified practical way according to instructions, scientific procedures, and manual therapy. Consistent with Valles et al., (2009) study which concluded that there is an effect of implementation (SS) approach in the manufacturing strategy [26].

On the other side, the study reversed that there are statistically significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) in the responses of the research sample related to the dimensions of Lean Six Sigma due to the personal characteristics of the employees (gender). As (F = 10.295, P-value = 000) that means it’s less than 0.05.

The results indicated that the physiotherapy profession is practiced at UNRWA according to WCPT rules and instructions. No differentiation between males and females (Table 4). Therefore, the work should be in the same methods. Consistent were reported by Dergham and Abdulla (2013) and Jawada (2011) [22] [27].

Our study also, illustrated that no statistically significant differences in the responses of the research sample about lean six sigma dimensions due to the Career level (Table 5). That means clinical instructions and physiotherapy protocol according to World confederation of physical therapy (WCPT) are applied

at the same line for both physiotherapy and physiotherapy assistance according regarding the UNRWA Physiotherapy policies, rules, and goals. Consistent with Dergham and Abdulla (2013) which concluded that there are no statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α ≤ 0.05) to scientific certificates about internal audit [22]. While disagreement with our result was reported by Jawada (2011) study where a difference was found due to career level as the top management was targeted and little employees have these positions [27]. All physiotherapists and assistant physiotherapy are working in the same environment sharing their knowledge, experiences, and practices.

As well as for the differences in the age of the research sample, the study illustrated that there are no differences in the age of the research sample due to age. The study illustrated that physiotherapy services are practiced at the same level for all ages no differences. All employees work under the same circumstances of UNRWA physiotherapy policies, goals, strategies and procedures (Table 6). Consistent with Dergham and Abdulla (2013) which concluded that there were no statistically significant differences between the responses of respondents to age [22].

Additionally the study concluded the results for all (Service Quality) dimensions showed that the average mean equal 4.26 and the weight mean equal 85.14% which is greater than “60%” and the value of t test equal 18.674 which is greater than the critical value which is equal 2.02 and the p-value equal 0.000 which is less than 0.05. That means Service Quality in UNRWA health centers-Gaza Strip is practiced at physiotherapy units. Clarifying the levels of quality according to SS levels, actually it lies between the second and third levels according to SS levels which was stated in (Table 7).

*Critical value of F at df “3.39” and significance level 0.05 equal 2.85.

*Critical value of t at df “42” and significance level 0.05 equal 2.02.

The researcher’s place of work has given her an advantage for fewer limitations. However, there have been some limitations:

Ÿ Lack of resources and materials about the study of concern.

Ÿ The crowding at physiotherapy units also may make the patients in stress, as they want to go home quickly.

Ÿ Long period electricity cut off has proven great limitation since the patients flow is arranged according to the appointment system, so the patients rearrange their work and home affairs according to schedule of electricity, which led the stations to be more congestion and put the staff and patients in more stress.

Our study indicated that employees practice the LSS but its concept is not clear yet as approach. The average of all LSS dimensions means was 4.05 and the means percentage of applications was 81.04%. Moreover, the Lean Six Sigma dimensions are applied in UNWRA healthcare centers in the Gaza Strip at significance level P < 0.05. The yielded high mean percentages indicate that LSS dimensions were really practiced in the physiotherapy units; however, the LSS approach has not completely adopted. Therefore, the study recommends that the application of Lean Six Sigma should be adopted as a practice and approach in the physiotherapy units in the UNRWA healthcare centers in the Gaza strip. Moreover, physiotherapists training and reward according to a needs assessment to implement Lean Six Sigma successfully is highly recommended.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Sharikh, N.M.A., El Farra, M.M., Abuzerr, S. and Madi, K. (2019) The Impact of Lean Six Sigma Practices on Physiotherapy Services Quality at UNRWA Healthcare Centers, Gaza Strip, Palestine. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 7, 79-94. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2019.712008

Annex one: Questionnaire

1) Socio-demographic information