Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Management, School of Management and Accounting, ‎Allameh ‎Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

2 MSc, Information Technology Management, School of Information Technology, University of Mehr ‎Alborz, Tehran, Iran

3 MSc, Information Technology Management, School of Management and Accounting, Allameh ‎Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Automatic identification and data collection without the need for frequent human intervention is an undeniable ‎necessity in health control. Among a variety of methods, radio-frequency identification (RFID) is known for this ‎characteristic and can be used for the online process of sending and receiving information. This study was ‎conducted to determine the role of this technology in the effectiveness of treatment and care at hospitals affiliated ‎to Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from the point of view of its users.Methods: This was an applied, descriptive, and the cross-sectional research. The statistical sample consisted of 72 physicians ‎and nurses of hospitals affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences selected through stratified sampling ‎method. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire the validity and reliability of which were, respectively, ‎confirmed by a group of experts and using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.89). Data were analyzed using chi-‎square test.Results: According to the results, 84% of the participants believed that RFID tags lead to the improvement of detection, ‎diagnosis, identification, and automated reception of information in treatment and care. The attitude of the studied ‎population toward RFID components was favorable in improving treatment and care in terms of effective ‎detection (17.05), diagnosis (16.27), automated reception, collection of information (15.54), and identification‎ (14.8).Conclusion: The favorable attitude of the participants shows that the use of RFID in the studied hospitals was effective in ‎improving treatment and care for the patients.

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