Payesh
Year:2014 | Volume:13 | Issue:1|Papers Count:14

Objective(s): To compare health conditions in Iran and southwest Asian countries.Methods: Fifteen core health indices as reported by World Health Organization (WHO) for the period of 2000-2007 were listed for Iran and southwest Asain countires. The numerical taxonomy techniquewas used to rank and measure the degree of health development amog all 26 southwest Asian countries.Results: The Results showed that the ranking of Iran decreased from 11 in 2000 to 12 in 2007. The highest ranking of Iran was 10 during 2003-2006 and during this period there was no progress in position of Iran. Since then the ranking was decreased.Conclusion: The failure in ranking of Iran among between southwest Asian countries is alerting. Perhaps this might be concequence of discontinuity in growing trends of development in health sector during the period under review. Indeed the findings has some implications for policy and practice.

Objective(s): This was a comparative scientometric study of specialty journals, impact factor, immediacy factor and cited life-half of Iranian journals with selected countries in order to determine present condition of the Iran.Methods: All Iranian and selected countries ISI indexed journals were entered into the presnet comparative study. A checklist including country, journal title, journal subject, ISSN, ISI indexing year, impact factor, immediacy factor and journals cited life-half for years of 2009 and 2010, was applied for data collection. The journals were scored on a 3-point index for the first, second and third rank in each category. Ranking was carried out based on total score achievd by each country.Results: Three countries (Palestine, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan) did not have any specialized journal in the field of medical sciences or other sciences. However, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran had 448 (31.1%), 285 (19.8%) and 185 (12.8%) specialzed journals of total of 1440 journals in 2009 and 468 (31.05%), 291 (19.3%) and 203 (13.5%) of total of 1507 journals in 2010 respectively. Turkey, Pakistan and Iran with 22, 16 and 9 points were the first three countries among 25 countries studied.Conclusion: Paying attention to scientometrics such as papers permanent availability, quality and quantity of papers and ISI indexing are important issues for improving the present status of specialized journals in Iran.

Objective(s): Achieving the objectives of planned programs in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) depends on the successful implementation of operational planning (OP). In the last few years an attempt was made to deploy OP in different units. This paper reports on a system design and using process reengineering models in order to renew the existing OP.Methods: Data were collected by several approaches including literature review, focus group discussions, interviews, and questionnaires. Ten principles were set on how to redesign the existing operational planning system. Based on these principles, main processes, procedures, and standards were redesigned in both regulations and procedures.Results: The results showed three important strengths of the operational planning system: support of top managers, law, and the experience of ministry of health in implementation of operational planning. The most important challenges of current OP system were: weakness in coordination, and audit and accreditation of the process. Thus a new OP was proposed. Strengths of the new OP model includes compatibility with result chain activities, existence of a scientific OP glossary, project oriented approach, compatibility of decision making levels with the structure of MOHME, documentation, establishment of the relationship between employer, contractor, and the spectator, categorized evaluation, timing, clear relation between OP and allocated budget, encouragement, and education of process owners and finally internal and external compatibility of programs.Conclusion: Despite various strengths of existing OP systems, critical success factor of the newly proposed model is the audit of the defined programs and projects.

Objective(s): One of the main strategies for improving system performance is the total quality of management. This study aimed to assess the effect of an educational intervention on the application of TQM in a hospital ward.Methods: This was a small scale study of a random sample of 20 nurses working in a hospital ward in Qazvin, Iran. Participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire on importance and application of the TQM dimensions at two pints in time: at baseline (before intervention) and after an educational intervention at three moths follow-up. Data were analyzed using the Paired-t test by SPSS software.Results: There were significant differences on mean scores of the TQM application on several TQM damnations such as customer (patient) attention (P=0.035), staff participation (P=0.037), and patient-nurse communication (P=0.050) before and after intervention. However, there was no significant difference in TQM concept application before and after educational intervention (P=0.014).Conclusion: The findings suggest that the application of total quality management in improved patient safety is essential.

Objective(s): The framework approach was developed in the 1980s as a method to manage and analyze qualitative data in applied policy research. The aim of this article is to introduce the Framework analysis for qualitative data analysis.Methods: Electronic literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid, ProQuest, and Google. Then relevant literature was retrieved and was reviewed.Results: A number of scientific evidences were identified. In general there were two types of papers: those applied framework analysis in healthcare and social investigations, and those explained about the framework analysis processes. The five steps of framework approach constitute a hierarchical thematic framework that is used to classify and organize data according to key themes, concepts and emergent categories.Conclusion: The framework approach has become popular, especially among novice healthcare researchers, due to flexibility, easy and clear steps.

Objective(s): The benefit of fruit and vegetable intake in old age is well documented. However, there is evidence that old people do not consume enough fruit and vegetable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a theorybased tailored nutritional intervention that aimed to increase the fruit and vegetable intake among elderly Iranians.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed among a community sample of elderly in Tehran, Iran in year 2008 to 2009. Data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks follow-up. At baseline face-to-face interviews were conducted with the whole sample using a structured questionnaire including items on demographic information, stage of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance, daily servings of fruit and vegetable intake. Four weeks follow-up data were collected after implementing the intervention.Results: The mean age of participants was 64.06±4.48 years and overall two-third of participants were female. At baseline total fruit and vegetable intake was not differed between two groups but it was significantly increased in the intervention group at posttest assessment (mean serving/day in intervention group 3.08±1.35 vs.1.79±1.08 in control group, P=0.001). Further analysis also indicated that elderly in intervention arm had higher fruit and vegetable intake, perceived benefits and selfefficacy, and lower perceived barriers. Compared with control group, greater proportions of elderly in the intervention group moved from pre contemplation to contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance stages (P<0.0001), and from contemplation /preparation to action/maintenance stages (P=0.004) from pretest to posttest assessments.Conclusion: The findings suggest that TTM is a useful model that can be applied to dietary behavior change, especifically fruit and vegetable consumption among elderly populations.

Objective(s): To determine the knowledge and perceived threat level of elementary school students about breakfast and snack consumptions in Zahedan, Iran.Methods: In this descriptive study 223 elementary fourth grade students were selected by multi-stage sampling. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire that its validity and reliability were reviewed and confirmed. The data were analyzed performing independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation test.Results: The results showed that students obtained 76 percent of the total score of knowledge, sensitivity, and perceived severity and 60 percent of the total score of behavior.51.6 percent of students reported that they were eating breakfast every day and 22 percent reported that they were consuming snack every day. Pearson test showed that the relationship between knowledge and perceived susceptibility and severity and behavior were positive and significant (P<0.05) Conclusion: The findings suggest that breakfast and snack consumption among students was not satisfactory. Various educational programs including theory based interventions are recommended.

Objective(s): Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition among women. The aim of this study was to determine quality of life of postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 313 post- menopausal women with urinary incontinence were participated. The data were collected using the Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID), the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI) and the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire (I-QoL).Results: The mean QoL score was 46.18±19.91. Most women (48.6%) reported that suffering from mixed UI and this group had the lowest QoL score. There were significant differences in quality of life score among women suffering from different types of UI (P<0.001).Conclusion: The findings indicated that QoL was impaired in women with UI. It seems that health professionals should educate patients and make them aware of available treatments.

Objective(s): Self-efficacy is an important construct within many health education theories and models and is defined as one's beliefs in his/herown ability to complete tasks and reach goals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a motivational interviewing session on self-efficacy of pregnant women in response to air pollution hazards.Methods: In this experimental study, 110 eligible pregnant women attending to prenatal clinics in 2012 in Tehran, Iran were randomly selected and randomized into intervention (55) and control group (51) who did not receive any intervention. The inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 35 years, having a normal pregnancy, not having a history of chronic disease and being satisfied to participate in the study. The women were excluded from the study if their pregnancies were complicated. Data were collected at baseline and 1-month follow up through demographic questionnaire and a designed valid measure including items on self-efficacy regarding air pollution preventive behaviors. Data were analyzed via t-test, Mann Whitney U test Wilcoxon and Chi-squre.Results: In all, data for 104 pregnant women including 53 individuals in the intervention group and 51 ones in control group were analyzed. The mean age of women was 27.2 (±4.11) years and it was 22.89 (±8.75) for gestational age. Although before the intervention, both groups were the same in terms of demographic variables and the outcome measure, after the intervention, the mean ranks of self-efficacy were significantly better than the control group (P<0.0001).Conclusion: The study findings revealed that the designed educational intervention could improve the self-efficacy of pregnant women regarding air pollution preventive behaviors.

Objective(s): This study aimed to examone the effect of a designed educational program regarding brucellosis prevention on knowledge, attitude and preventive behaviors of rural females of Kermanshah, Iran.Methods: A total of 182 patients suffering from brucellosis were randomized to either intervention group (n=91) who received a designed educational program or to control group (n=91) without receiving any eduction program. At baseline and two months after intervention, participants filled out self adminestered questionnaires.Results: Average score of knowledge, attitude and behavior at baseline and follow up time were 10.41±3.65, 27.8±3.6, 4.73±1.67 and 19.8±1.77, 34.9±2.2, 6.73±1.77 respectively. Although, the two groups were comparable regarding all demographic data and baseline studied variables (P>0.05), there were significant differences between two groups regarding knowledge, attitude and behavior after intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion: The findings revealed that the designed educational program could improve knowledge, attitude and behavior of female paticipated in the study.

Objective(s): The Sistan va Baluchestan province is one of the most important provinces in Iranian border and is considered as a disaster-prone area in the country. This study is a situational analysis of Sistan va Baluchestan community participation in confronting natural disasters.Methods: This descriptive-analytical research has been undertaken in five stages including the collection of data on: governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, history, extent and trend of activities, the future programs, and quantity and quality of staff and members of organizations. The gap in information was collected using qualitative methods if necessary.Results: There were many active registered or non-registered NGO in Sistan va Baluchestan. We observed that even in predisaster phase they participate in disaster risk reduction activities.Conclusion: The governmental should pay attention to the important role of these NGOs as the most important stakeholders in confronting disasters.

Objective(s): to evaluate research development units in teaching hospitals.Methods: This was a qualitative study that was conducted at national level in Iran. We used standardize open–ended interviews and focus group discussions for data collection. Experts were selected according to their experiences, activities and cooperation levels with ministry of health and research development units.Results: In all four main themes emerged from analysis: i) necessity of establishing clinical research development units in teaching hospitals, ii) units’ limitations, iii) organizational structure and financing, iv) strategies for improving these units.Conclusion: The findings indicated areas that need improvements including providing appropriate resources for these units.

Objective(s): Health literacy is a relatively new emerging concept in public health. It is also a new area for research with links to communication. It has been suggested that health literacy incorporates all of the major psychological, social, and environmental constructs that influence individual health choices. It has been suggested that poor health literacy poses a major barrier to public's health and might represent a major cost to health care system. The aim of this study was to examine what is health literacy.Methods: A review was undertaken of all the full publications in the English and Persian language biomedical journals between 1993 and 2012. The search was restricted to ‘health literacy’ that appeared in the titles/abstracts of the publications. In addition, a manual search was performed to include additional papers of potential interest.Results: In all 1788 citations were identified. After screening, 1265 duplicate citations were excluded. The remaining 523 citations were further examined and 438 citations were found irrelevant. Finally the full texts of 85 papers were assessed. Of these 42 papers were found to be relevant and were included in this review. The findings indicated that variations exist in defining health literacy and each definition contained some aspects of health literacy. We identified that a comprehensive definition of health literacy might include the following constructs: ability to read, ability and skills to access, understand, and appraise health information, make decisions, and practice in order to maintain or improve health.Conclusion: An agreed definition of health literacy is needed. An authoritative body might propose such a definition.