Original Article(s)
Firoozeh Zarefarashbandi; Mojtaba Karbalaee; Fatemeh Baji; Maryam Zahedian vernosefaderani
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 11-24
Abstract
Introduction: Quantitative study of journal articles as an indicator of informatics and bibliometric activities, gives an estimate of how effectively that journal disseminates information. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of collaboration along with main subjects in the articles published ...
Read More
Introduction: Quantitative study of journal articles as an indicator of informatics and bibliometric activities, gives an estimate of how effectively that journal disseminates information. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of collaboration along with main subjects in the articles published in the Medical Scientific Journal of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we quantitatively studied co-authorship rate and among authors of the articles published in the Medical Scientific Journal of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences. We also assessed diversity of main subjects in a period from 1986 to 2006.
Results: Our findings indicated that the contribution rate for women in writing articles of the studied journal is less than for men. Collaboration has been mostly in the form of two authors. Also, tendency towards collaboration among authors showed a gradual increase during the study period. Collaboration ratio among authors was 4%, indicating average group cooperation. In terms of subject diversity, "pediatrics", "physiology" and "pharmacy" were most commonly used, while other subjects including "pathology", "chronic disease" and "the aged" and "hospital" were not covered at all.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the rate of collaboration among women in writing articles published in the studied journal is one-forth of men. Articles are mostly written by two authors. Moreover, distribution of the published articles subjects was not balanced in accordance with subject coverage of the journal. Some subjects were considered less and some were totally neglected.
Keywords: Periodicals; Library and Information Science; Authorship
Original Article(s)
Reza Vazirinejad; Abbas Esmaeili; Ali Naderi; Azam Radman
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 25-34
Abstract
Introduction: Accurate documentation of the cause of death is critical for health care planning. In this study, the most important causes of death registered on death certificates and the most important issues preventing accurate registration and access to death information in the town of Rafsanjan were ...
Read More
Introduction: Accurate documentation of the cause of death is critical for health care planning. In this study, the most important causes of death registered on death certificates and the most important issues preventing accurate registration and access to death information in the town of Rafsanjan were surveyed.
Methods: This was a descriptive study. All death certificates (totally 1197) issued during the year 2004 in Rafsanjan were reviewed. The relevant information was collected on a checklist. Data were analyzed with SPSS.
Results: Common issues preventing accurate documentation and access to information about the causes of death were as follows: incongruity between available information in different medical centers, incomplete death certificates, difficult access to death information, inaccurate registration of the real causes of death and illegibility of the registered information. The most common cause of death in males was accident and in females was a cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion: The registration system and access to death information requires extensive modification, therefore, information pertaining causes of death must be used and interpreted cautiously.
Keywords: Cause of Death; Medical Records; Data Collection
Original Article(s)
Seyyed Habibollah Kavari; Shandiz Moslehi; Akram Panahi
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 35-41
Abstract
Introduction: Disasters are always challenging to hospital managers as they give rise to critical conditions. From all natural disasters occurring in the world, 31 have happened in Iran, giving the country a high global rank in this regard. Therefore it seems necessary for hospitals to adopt contingency ...
Read More
Introduction: Disasters are always challenging to hospital managers as they give rise to critical conditions. From all natural disasters occurring in the world, 31 have happened in Iran, giving the country a high global rank in this regard. Therefore it seems necessary for hospitals to adopt contingency plans. This study aimed to assess the level of preparedness of hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences at the time of disasters.
Methods: In this cross–sectional study, 28 hospital managers from affiliated hospitals to Shiraz Medical University were interviewed using a questionnaire which was validated in previous studies. Data were analyzed with SPSS.
Results: The findings showed that 55.5% of the head nurses and 77.5% of the managers had attended crisis management courses. Only in 50% of the studied hospitals the nurses were trained for patients’ emergency evacuation and in 11% safety committee existed.
Conclusion: Chaos at the early stages of a disaster is inevitable; thus a contingency plan must be adopted to minimize mayhem. There is a real need for crisis management training programs for hospital executive managers.
Keywords: Hospitals; Natural Disasters; Safety Management; Health Services Administration; Management Information Systems
Original Article(s)
Mahvash Kalhor; Zahra Abazari
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 43-52
Abstract
Introduction: Research is one of the most important ways of information production. Among different kinds of research, applicability of research findings and the added-value of the elicited information are of great importance. Creativity, production of new technology, theory or method and problem solving ...
Read More
Introduction: Research is one of the most important ways of information production. Among different kinds of research, applicability of research findings and the added-value of the elicited information are of great importance. Creativity, production of new technology, theory or method and problem solving are among the indices of information added-value. This study aimed to investigate the relation between research and community health improvement at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This survey reviewed academic members’ research projects between 2002 and 2005 in order to determine the information added-value. Biost three-dimensional qualitative model was used. This model consists of three components namely encoding, abstraction and publication and determines minimum and maximum added value of the elicited information.
A questionnaire including 23 questions was designed. The questionnaire was validated through literature review and consultation with efficient epidemiologists. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS.
Results: Our findings revealed that the maximum variance of added value was between minimum and maximum amounts of Biost model. F test showed that there was no significant difference between the mean values of coding component of the produced information (P
Original Article(s)
Nahid Tavakoli; Sakineh Saghaeyannejad; Mohammadreza Rezayatmand; Farhad Moshaveri; Iraj Ghaderi
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 53-61
Abstract
Introduction: Hospital managers are always concerned about provision and careful control of financial resources. In this study the deductions applied by Khadamat-e-Darman insurance company on patients' bills at university hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were investigated.
Methods: ...
Read More
Introduction: Hospital managers are always concerned about provision and careful control of financial resources. In this study the deductions applied by Khadamat-e-Darman insurance company on patients' bills at university hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were investigated.
Methods: In this cross–sectional study, data were collected in a checklist consisting of nine parts and 39 questions. The checklist was checked for validity and reliability and was handed over in ten university hospitals in Isfahan. Data were analyzed with SPSS.
Results: The obtained findings suggested that the highest deductions pertained to Feiz hospital (18.5%) while the lowest came from Imam Mosa Kazem hospital (10.4%).
The most frequent cause of deductions related to medication costs (40%) whereas the least frequent cause pertained to consultation fees (10.6%).
Conclusion: On average, each case record covered by Khadamat-e-Darman Insurance Company had 330,000 Rials deduction.
The main cause of deduction seems to be incomplete and inaccurate documenting of hospitalized patients' records by care providers.
Keywords: Health Insurance; Medical Records; Documentation
Original Article(s)
Rasoul Noori; Alireza Norouzi; Abbas Mirzaee
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 73-82
Abstract
Introduction: Scientometry is one of the common methods for the assessment of scientific activity of researchers and research organizations, usually using databases.
In this study, Web of Science, as one of the authoritative scientific databases, was reviewed to explore science production of IUMS researchers ...
Read More
Introduction: Scientometry is one of the common methods for the assessment of scientific activity of researchers and research organizations, usually using databases.
In this study, Web of Science, as one of the authoritative scientific databases, was reviewed to explore science production of IUMS researchers from 1976 to 2006.
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, using a checklist for data collection. The checklist was validated by experts. A total of 488 scientific documents produced by IUMS researchers from 1976 to 2006 were retrieved from Web of Science Database.
Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and book-assessment method.
Results: Findings showed that most publications were made during the year of 2006. The most common subject was "peripheral circulation".
Conclusion: The science production of IUMS researchers appeared in ISI journals is not considerable. More incentives should be provided to encourage researchers for more publication in ISI journals.
Keywords: Science; Information Science; Databases; Production
Original Article(s)
Saeedeh Ketabi; Javad Monzavibarzaki
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 83-91
Abstract
Introduction: Most of Iran’s health budget goes to hospitals as the largest care providing unit in the community. More than 60% of hospital resources are allocated for staffing. One of the problems facing hospitals especially in critical and sensitive parts such as in emergency room is appropriate ...
Read More
Introduction: Most of Iran’s health budget goes to hospitals as the largest care providing unit in the community. More than 60% of hospital resources are allocated for staffing. One of the problems facing hospitals especially in critical and sensitive parts such as in emergency room is appropriate staffing. This research was designed to investigate and improve nursing staffing and human resource planning at the emergency room of Chamran Hospital using Linear programming as a method of Operational Research.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study used a checklist for data collection. Study population included patients and nursing staff of emergency room during the months of November and December 2006 and January 2007. After estimating the average number of patients and the average time required for nursing care to each category of emergency patients, the number of nurses needed for each hospital shift was calculated using Wine Windows Quantitative Systems for Business (QSB) program.
Results: According to the findings, for more appropriate patient care, Chamran hospital emergency room needs at least 28 nurses per shift.
Conclusion: Various models of Operational Research such as linear programming are practical for estimating the appropriate staffing at various parts of a hospital.
Keywords: Nurses; Hospital Programming; Medical Emergencies; Scientific Management
Original Article(s)
Abolghasem Pourreza; Feyzollah Akbarihaghighi; Vajihollah Khodabakhshnejad
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 93-102
Abstract
Introduction: Almost all hospitals have diagnostics units. These units are of great importance since they have complex and expensive equipment and experienced staff.
The goal of this study was to assess diagnostic units approach to safety at GUMS hospitals
in 2004.
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional ...
Read More
Introduction: Almost all hospitals have diagnostics units. These units are of great importance since they have complex and expensive equipment and experienced staff.
The goal of this study was to assess diagnostic units approach to safety at GUMS hospitals
in 2004.
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data collected with a two part checklist. The first part included demographic characteristics of the studied population and the second part was related to diagnostic unit's safety and status. Following a pilot study, reliability and validity of the checklist were determined, and final questionnaire was released.
The safety level of hospitals in this study was classified according to a 3-level scale: Good/Acceptable, Intermediate, and Weak.
Results: 1) Overall Radiology unit's safety was at "Intermediate" level. In other words, five hospitals had "Intermediate" safety conditions and only one hospital could be classified as "Good". 2) Laboratories' safety was rated "intermediate" in general with four hospitals being at "intermediate" level and two at "good" level. 3) In general, diagnostic units' safety received "intermediate" score (i.e. five "intermediate" and one "good" level).
Conclusion: According to this study, overall diagnostic units' safety of GUMS hospitals seems to be "intermediate". Thus there is a need to pay more attention to the importance of safety for patients, visitors and personnel and to develop safety standards and principles in hospitals.
Keywords: Hospitals; Resources Management; Equipment Safety; Pathology Department; Hospital; Equipment Management.
Original Article(s)
Mandana Sahebzadeh; Gholamabbas Bagheban
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 103-111
Abstract
Introduction: Providing high quality care in emergency room is highly critical.
This research was planned to compare emergency room standards of the Iranian Ministry of Health with those of ISO9001 (version 2000)
Method: This descriptive study compared ISO 9001 standards with items listed in Booklet- ...
Read More
Introduction: Providing high quality care in emergency room is highly critical.
This research was planned to compare emergency room standards of the Iranian Ministry of Health with those of ISO9001 (version 2000)
Method: This descriptive study compared ISO 9001 standards with items listed in Booklet- A1 (Iranian Ministry of Health Standards for Emergency Departments).
Expert views were sought for the possibility of such comparison. Validity and reliability of Ministry's standards and ISO 9001 standards were already ascertained in previous studies. Descriptive methods were applied for data analysis.
Results: For 51-itemed ISO 9001, 47.6% were comparable with Ministry's standard items, whereas 52.4% did not match with any of the Ministry's standards. Eighty two percent of Ministry's standards were found at least in one of the ISO 9001 items.
Conclusion: Ministry’s standards seem not to include many of the items of ISO 9001, therefore lacking a comprehensive approach towards all aspects of Emergency room activities such as process, management and organization. Revision of Ministry's standards according to the ISO 9001 standards seems to be necessary.
Keywords: Academic Standards; Emergency; Organization and Administration
Narrative Review
Jamshid Faghri; Majid Karimi; Safoora Heidari
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 113-123
Abstract
Introduction: Hospitals require a central monitoring and improve planning process in order to enhance patient care quality. Regarding the current developments in health care systems, the question is which information system can support transformation of hospitals.
This review article focuses on the ...
Read More
Introduction: Hospitals require a central monitoring and improve planning process in order to enhance patient care quality. Regarding the current developments in health care systems, the question is which information system can support transformation of hospitals.
This review article focuses on the capacity of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for the transformation of hospitals.
Methods: First, the development of information systems, the history and concept of ERP was described. Then the effectiveness and potentials of ERP and the challenges of its application in hospitals were discussed.
Conclusion: We suggest that hospital processes should be divided into two parts; definitive and tentative processes. ERP systems are beneficial in definitive processes.
Keywords: Hospital Information Systems; Management Information Systems; Hospital Planning
Systematic Review
Ahmadreza Raeisi; Saeed Asefzadeh; Mohammadhossein Yarmohammadian
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2006, Pages 1-9
Abstract
Introduction: The scientific, technological and economic development of a society is closely related to its public health. Therefore; improvement of health service quality along with increasing the number of health facilities is one of the main concerns of health care authorities in developed countries. ...
Read More
Introduction: The scientific, technological and economic development of a society is closely related to its public health. Therefore; improvement of health service quality along with increasing the number of health facilities is one of the main concerns of health care authorities in developed countries. This study was designed to compare accreditation models of health care organizations in Europe and the United States.
Methods: This was a comparative-review study in which a wide range of paper and electronic data sources related to different accreditation models in all European countries and the US were collected. The origins, underlying principles and the application of various accreditation models in health care were compared.
Results: Our findings showed that four models of health care accreditation were applied in European countries. The ISO and EFQM models had industrial origins, and were more frequently used in technical fields such as laboratories and administrative departments of hospitals. Other accreditation models, however, had health care origins and were used for the accreditation of all sections of hospitals as well as for specialized clinical groups.
Conclusion: One of the main challenges facing countries whishing to establish an accreditation system is to reach an agreement on the concept and characteristics of the accreditation model.
Keywords: Quality of health care; Evaluation; Accreditation
