Journal of Health Information Management
Year:2020 | Volume:17 | Issue:1 (71)|Papers Count:8

Introduction: Quality information is essential for evidence-based decision-making and improving the performance of the healthcare system. Hence, health information management system should be continuously monitored. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of routine information on the care of patients with diabetes mellitus in rural health centers of Sari County, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. The statistical population included routine statistical reports of the patients with diabetes mellitus in all rural health centers of Sari County. The sample size was 30 rural health centers selected using census sampling method. Data were collected using a validated Performance of Routine Information Systems Management (PRISM) tool, which had four dimensions including timeliness, accuracy, completeness, and data processing. The gathered data were reported using descriptive statistics. Results: 81. 50 percent of data was timely. The accuracy of the data was between 39. 99 and 53. 33 percent, and the overall compliance was 16. 67 percent. 94. 90 percent of the quarterly reports of the patients with diabetes mellitus was complete. 86. 66 percent of the units calculated the indicators for their own units, summarized the reports, and compared the performance of the service-provider units. However, the comparative indicators of the related activity were neglected. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the accuracy of data in rural health centers is not optimal. Logically, the existing weaknesses prevent the attainment of data collection purpose, which in turn makes its citation and use impossible.

Introduction: Urban health centers provide primary health services in cities. In recent years, comprehensive urban health services centers have undergone changes in structure, function, and area of activity; however, these changes cannot address all the problems in this area. This study endeavored to identify the challenges facing Integrated Health Services after implementing health transformation plan. Methods: In this qualitative case study, the target population was managers and staff of Kerman City comprehensive health services centers in Iran. Semi-structured interview was conducted with 8 managers and 7 staff members of Kerman comprehensive health centers. The interview guide was employed to gather information, including some general questions based on the literature review, and to clarify specific topics. The content analysis method based on Colaizzi’ s seven stages of rapeseed was used to obtain data as well. Results: In this study, after analyzing the challenges of comprehensive urban health centers, four main themes of human, organizational, functional, and clients were identified. Conclusion: It is possible to offset these problems through strategies such as reforming the payment system and incentive system, expanding physical departments of the centers, reviewing programs, and effective implementation of family physician plans.

Introduction: Due to developments in journal management systems (JMS) and the insufficient relevant studies in the field of information systems usability, the purpose of this paper was to compare the most widely used Iranian JMSs based on the 8 usability criteria. Methods: The population of this survey included the users of the selected 4 systems among 13 Iranian journal management systems at Iranian medical science universities. This study used a multi-stage sampling method, and selected 80 users from these systems. Evaluation of users' interfaces was conducted based on the Purdue Usability Testing Questionnaire (PUTQ) questionnaire in 4 layers including chief editors, referees, authors, and regular users. Data were analyzed using descriptive tests and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Overall, in the 8 usability criteria in sequence, Yektaweb (4. 84), Neoscribber3 (4. 67), and Open Journal Systems (OJS) (4. 59) had the highest and Sinaweb had the lowest average. Furthermore, users showed that the compatibility and the consistency criteria had the highest averages while all systems had the lowest mean in flexibility criterion. Conclusion: It seems that more attention needs to be paid to two criteria of flexibility and user-guide during design of Iranian JMS systems. It is also important to select JMSs, which are user-friendly in order to make processes easier and faster. Researchers and medical librarians also should focus on all usability criteria equally.

Introduction: Assessing the quality of mobile websites related to libraries is one of the new topics of study. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of the mobile websites of the libraries of the top Iranian universities of medical sciences. Methods: This was an applied research, done by the descriptive-survey method. The study population included the libraries' mobile websites of the top fifty Iranian universities of medical sciences, which ranked highest in the webometrics ranking of universities in January 2019. The quality of services was evaluated using a checklist included fourteen indicators. Descriptive statistical methods and Friedman test were utilized for data analysis. Results: "Quick Access to Databases, " "Contact us, " and "Observing and Searching Library Catalog" with a mean rank of 10. 01 had the best position among indicators. "Study Hall Reservation" with a mean rank of 3. 01 and "Library Floors' Map/Plan" with a mean rank of 3. 99 had the worst situation among the fourteen indicators studied, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that some indicators such as "Quick Access to Databases, " "Observing and Searching Library Catalog, " and "Library News and Events" were more useful than others. These are the indicators that users of libraries' mobile websites usually need. Medical informatics administrators and designers at medical universities can use the results of this research to improve the quality of services of mobile websites of university libraries.

Introduction: Health insurance supervision and control has important role in achieving the health insurance and health system mission and goals, but it has not received much attention. This study aimed to review the researches related to health insurance supervision and control, and categorize the used topics and related data sources. Methods: The study was conducted using systematic mapping method. A total of 316 research papers (published until the end of 2018) were investigated in related databases. Atlas. ti8 software and keywording technique were used for analysis and data extraction. Results: Seven health insurance supervision (health insurance program/policy monitoring, cost control, coverage and financial protection, equity in health, health insurance data and claims assessment, and people/insured and health service supplier and control topics) as well as nine data sources were identified. Conclusion: Health insurance program/policy monitoring and cost control topics had the most research number, and people/insured and health service supplier topics were the least related researches.

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused many challenges especially in production and dissemination of misinformation among people. Dissemination of incorrect statistics about patients, the dead as well as those who have recovered from this disease, are some examples of misinformation. It seems that insufficient media literacy, complete trust or distrust of the media, the spread of rumors, fragmentation of information, social context, speed misinformation sharing, lack of ethics, different opinions between experts and authorities, the impact of time, and the neglect of the issue are all factors influencing the misinformation sharing. The causes of misinformation are different. Nevertheless, it seems that the main cause for all people is the lack or low level of media and information literacy among them. The realistic structure of dealing with crises must also be anticipated and institutionalized in society. On the other hand, the media can prevent dissemination of misinformation with transparency, speed and accuracy in disseminating information, and appropriate policymaking. These activities include quick determination of the spokesperson of the crisis headquarters during crises, the avoidance of other official's opinions to providing information to the public, as well as the effective action of cyber police against the dissemination of misinformation in this condition noted. What has been mentioned as relevant factors in the present study is the view of the authors, and it is necessary to examine it by health researchers more.

The outbreak of emerging and acute infectious diseases is one of the threats to global health. Another such event is the latest global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) COVID-19. The right policymaking and management of this pandemic require the use of scientific capabilities and evidence obtained from different experiences. However, as far as COVID-19 is a wicked problem, informed decision making for COVID-19 differs from policymaking in normal circumstances and faces difficulties. In general, we grouped these difficulties into three categories, including uncertainties, heterogeneous policymaking, and weaknesses of the history approach. Uncertainties of coronavirus can be resolved by the development of an integrated system for tracking deaths and mortality estimates, monitoring of the key characteristics of dead coronavirus patients and patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), as well as more work to assess the incidence and characteristics of coronavirus infections across the population. In order to minimize the harm caused by heterogeneous policies, it would be easier to clarify, interpret, and apply the macro-strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO) consistent with the local requirements of the country instead of not embracing and refusing them altogether. Furthermore, in order to make good use of the history-as lessons-approach of the epidemics in COVID-19 policy, the experiences of previous epidemics must be adequately clarified and logically interpreted and implemented in accordance with the temporal, environmental, and political circumstances of the COVID-19 epidemic.