Journal of Health Information Management
Year:2009 | Volume:6 | Issue:2 (12)|Papers Count:11

Introduction: Since, accurate, appropriate, precise, timely, valid information, and valid interpretation of information is required and the basis for policy and decision making and planning in various levels of the organization management, this study was conducted to evaluate the district health information system evolution in Isfahan province according to World Health Organization framework.Methods: This research was an applied, descriptive cross-sectional study, in which a total of twelve urban and eight rural facilities, and one district health center at Falavarjan district were surveyed by using a questionnaire with 334 items. Content validity was confirmed. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.99. Obtained data were analyzed with SPSS software and descriptive statistics were used to examine measures of central tendencies.Results: The mean score of evaluation of district health information system framework was 35.75 percent. The maximum score of compliance with district health information system belonged to the data collection process (70 percent). The minimum score of compliance with district health information system belonged to information based decision making process (10 percent).Conclusion: The results showed that information entities of the district health information system in Isfahan province are not in compliance with WHO framework. Consequently, it seems that health system managers engaged with underlying policy and decision making processes at district health systems should try to restructure and decentralize district health information system and develop training management programs for their managers.

Introduction: Patients’ decision-making and legal capacity are major factors of informed consent considered as a basis of medical ethics. This study aimed to determine the undergoing surgery inpatients capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks’ performance in taking the form in teaching hospitals in Kashan.Methods: In this cross sectional study, 300 random inpatients and admission clerks in 3 hospitals were observed through a checklist to determine the patients’ legal capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks’ performance. We analyzed the data through SPSS software with X2 test.Results: Only 55% patients singed themselves the consent form, however, 80% patients could sign it legally. In addition, 3.6% patients who signed the consent were not allowed to sign it. In addition, 59.3% surrogates were not allowed to sign the consent form. Admission clerks did not encourage 98.7% patients (surrogates) to read the consent form; also staffs did not give any opportunity to 75.3% patients (surrogates) for reading the form. Admission staffs did not control the legal relationship of surrogates who signed the consent form.Conclusion: Explaining the consent form to patients (surrogates) and more attention to legal capacity of consenter, also, documenting the policy to taking the consent form seems to be necessary.

Introduction: Today the issue of quality improvement in health care organizations has become more important than before, but the effectiveness of various quality management models remains questionable. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the performance of the Total Quality Management model (ISO 9001: 2000) implemented in Social Security Organizations' hospitals in Tehran province.Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study implementing applied manner. Data were collected in brain storming committee of quality managers and experts and were analyzed with inferential statistics.Results: After implementation of ISO 9001: 2000 standards in the investigated hospitals, the rate of improvement on human resource affairs, customer satisfaction, important administrative activities, and relationship with suppliers, finance, and marketing processes were as follows: 61.24%, 60.41%, 57.91%, 50.31%, and 45.8% respectively. The average rate of improvement for all of the hospitals together over the five stated dimensions was 55.13%.Conclusion: Implementation of ISO 9001: 2000 standards promoted a lot of the organizational processes in the investigated hospitals. However, the rate of success is far from the ideal level and it is highly recommended that the investigated hospitals put more time and attention on continues improvement of the processes in their organizations specially on the financing and marketing procedures and relationship with suppliers companies.

Introduction: According to role of patient and family education in the process of patient care, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has considered the patient and family education standards in the hospital accreditation program; on the otherwise conducted researches show that the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) hospital standards are not complete. We conducted this study to be aware of MOHME patient and family education standards.Methods: In this descriptive - comparative study the joint commission patient and family education standards (10 statements) were compared with hospital standards of Iran Health Ministry (4 statements). Using available information through internet, e-mail and referrals to related references was the method of data gathering. Data gathering was carried out through checklist, on the basis of patient and family education standards. Data analysis was done through descriptive statistical methods.Results: The comparative rate of the Health Ministry’s hospital standards with joint commission patient and family education standards were 0% completely, 40 % partially and 60 % with out adaptability.Conclusion: Findings showed that there was a gap in Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education hospital standards for patient and family education. Then compiling of patient and family education standards is essential.

Introduction: Information has a big portion in the success of every research system. Although journals are the main resources for researchers, the increasing price and number of them have made difficult duties for libraries in providing information needs.Methods: In this descriptive survey, data gathered using a check list and results were found with Bradford's law and collaboration rate formula. SPSS software was used to analyze data.Results: 386 articles from 21 journals had 4915 citations; the mean for every article was 12.73.The most number of articles were on 2003.29.53% of articles had 3 authors. Authors' collaboration rate was 0.45, which means an average rate. The most cited journals were determined. Periodicals had the most use with 69.75%. Half life of books was 7.7 years, journals 6 years and dissertations 5.2 years.90.4 of citations were ton English sources.Conclusion: Results showed that authors of articles in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences had the average number of collaboration rate and tend to teamwork. Also citations to periodicals follow Bradford's law.

Introduction: Use of the internet to retrieve health information is increasingly common.The present study aimed to determine the ratio of attitude, skill and performance of faculty members in using computer and internet in research and educational affairs at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In this cross -sectional study, an expert-reviewed and pilot-tested questionnaire, in 3 dimensions of attitude, skill, and usage, was used to collect data from 124 faculty members coming from five faculties of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.Data were analyzed by SPSS software using Spearman correlation test, central and scattered indices.Results: Most of study population) 38.7 (%was in good skill level, 15.3 %in average, 11.3 %in weak, and 29%in excellent skill level.58.9 %of faculty members had excellent attitude and 26.6 %good attitude about using internet and computer in medical education.About performance, 41.9 %used computer 10-15 hours per week and in average, 33.9 %used internet more than 60 hours per month.Conclusion: According to positive attitude of the faculty members to computer and internet in medical education and lack of enough knowledge and skill, it is necessary to think about promoting their skills and performances for optimal use of computer and internet in research and educational affairs.It is recommended to provide educational workshops based on needs due to knowledge, skill and science for faculty members of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, so they can gain from computer an internet facilities and electronic databases.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Iranian trend of research in pharmaceutical sciences published in international publication and to compare it with that in other countries in the Middle East and North Africa in 1996-2006 through scientometrics methods.Methods: In this ecological study, the data were extracted from ISI: Web of Science, Scopus and International Pharmaceutical Abstract (IPA) databases. The indexed documents of authors from Iran as well as 13 other regional and North African countries in mentioned databases in the fields relevant to pharmaceutical sciences including pharmacy, pharmacology, toxicology and medicinal chemistry in the last 11 years (1996-2006) were retrieved and quantitatively analyzed.Results: Analysis of indexed pharmaceutical documents from the Middle East and North African countries (1996-2006) showed that Iran ranks second in the ISI/WOS, Scopus and IPA. However, Iran has achieved the first rank in the WOS and Scopus in the years 2004-2006 and in IPA in the last two years (2005-2006). Ranking of normalized indexed pharmaceutical documents based on GDP and population showed Iran fell to the forth rank in Scopus and IPA and the fifth in WOS.Conclusion: Iran has managed to stand on the first place of science production within the field of pharmaceutical sciences among Middle East and North Africa in the last 11 years. Maintenance of the acquired rank requires planning and paying enough attention to utilization of research potentials of universities and research centers within the field of pharmaceutical sciences and the interdisciplinary sciences.

Introduction: The main purpose of this project was exactly identification of the applied researches done by different offices of the Iranian Ministry of Health, Remedies and Medical Education in the deputy between September of 1998 to September of 2003, considering their results and the degree of utilization by the users.Methods: This project had 4 steps.The 1st step was a questionnaire for identifying some demographic data.Study of research final reports was the 2nd step, gathering special goals and tangible products.In the 3rd one, an interview was made with the researches main users.The last step was to analyze the findings and to emphasize on systematic obstacles with relevant suggestions.Results: For total of 23 researches, about 4’620’350’000 Rials paid.For 16 researches a public announcement have done, the reminders had restrict announces.Among the researchers, 17 were selected by their proposals, but 6 ones just by their Cerculem Vitaes.Only the degrees of 17 researchers were relevant to the research subjects.Conclusion: The sum of all researches done in this period, the utilization capability was “High”, but the utilization indeed was “Low”.About 38 %of them were faced with some managerial obstacles and 62%had some kinds of operational ones.According to the results, choosing better subjects, documenting the main goals of the research, selecting the researchers based on their experiences and their proposals, attention to operational agenda, stability of policies, and higher administration commitment are useful suggestions for removing the obstacles.

One of the methods for knowledge transferring is documentation of procedures done in a documentary process, whether in a paper or electronic format. For creation reporting process of monitoring the rate of blood request, uses, and reactions, also unused blood after cross matching test, a form with the ability to drive statistical reports, covering deficiencies of current form, was needed. So according to needed reports, protecting documentary in a medico legal aspect, a form was designed regarding scientific rules, current Iranian format, and WHO regulations. Of course every topic has capacity for discussion and designer will appreciate all criticism ideas.