7 research outputs found

    The productivity and its barriers in public hospitals: Case study of Iran

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    Background: Due to the increasing health care costs, the issue of productivity in hospitals must be taken into great consideration in order to provide, preserve and promote public health services. Thus, increasing the level of productivity must become the main aim of any hospital. Objective of this study is to determine the total factor productivity and its components over the period under the study. Methods: In this cross sectional study, total factor productivity changes of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences were measured according to Malmquist index over the period 2009-2014. To estimate total productivity changes using Data Envelopment Analysis method, inputoriented and variable return to scale assumptions were applied and Deap2.1 software was used. Results: The mean value of total productivity changes was 1.013. It means that during the study period the productivity experienced a 1.3 decrease. Technological efficiency changes have the greatest influence on productivity decrease than the other factors. Scale efficiency, managerial efficiency and technical efficiency changes were ranked. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge of hospital personnel on proper application of technology in patient treatment is the main factor leading to productivity decrease resulting from technological changes in the studied hospitals. Therefore, holding courses for personnel in order to teach them the proper use of technology in diagnosis and patient care can be helpful

    Experiences of rural women with damages resulting from an earthquake in Iran: A qualitative study

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    Background: Women, with more vulnerabilities and less access to resources, are often seen as victims of natural disasters. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the experiences of rural women with damages resulting from an earthquake in Iran. Methods: In this research, a qualitative approach, as well as the conventional content analysis was employed. The study population consisted of rural women residing in the earthquake-stricken areas of Sarpol-e Zahab and Salas-e Babajani counties in Kermanshah Province, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Moreover, sampling was purposeful, theoretical saturation was achieved by conducting 22 interviews, and the data analysis process was performed according to the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. For the strength and transferability of the research, Lincoln and Guba's Evaluative Criteria were used. Results: There were seven categories regarding the experiences of rural women after the earthquakes including neglecting the health needs; tension in the family and marital relations; gender inequality in the provision of assistance; feeling insecure; ignoring the ruling culture of the region; concealing needs for fear of stigmatization, and incoherent mourning as well as two categories regarding their reactions to and interaction with the earthquake consequences including positive and negative interactions. Conclusions: Paying more attention to the needs of rural women, taking the culture governing the village into account at the time of service delivery, and helping them with positive adaptations are some indispensable measures that should be taken. © 2020 The Author(s)

    Experiences and challenges of Prostitute Women in Iran: A phenomenological qualitative study

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    Background: Prostitutes in Iran are faced with many challenges and problems that pose risks to their health. Objective: The present study is an attempt to identify and narrate the challenges and experiences of Iranian prostitutes based on a qualitative approach. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with a phenomenological approach in (2018) in Tehran, Iran. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 prostitutes who were selected using a snowball sampling method and analyzed with Colaizzi's method. In order to examine the quality of findings, Guba and Lincoln's measures were used. Results: Data analysis results were classified into five main categories and 14 subcategories. The main issues are: The experience of violence, Heath risk, social ostracism, objectifying, and lack of social and legal supporting structures. Conclusion: Prostitutes in Iran experience numerous problems at personal and social levels. By providing social, economic, and legal supports for them such as social services (e.g. educations on how to use contraceptives, how to have safe sexual intercourse, and free counseling services for mental support), we can improve their health and welfare. © 2020 The Author(s

    Effects of education via Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of voluntary health workers regarding Pap smear in urban centers of Qazvin

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    BackgroundCervical cancer is the second common cancer after breast cancer in the world. It accounts for 18% of total deaths among women.PurposeThis quasi-experimental before-after study was conducted to determine the effects of education based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on knowledge and attitude of voluntary health workers regarding Pap smear in urban centers of Qazvin. Methods 120 health workers took part in the study. A questionnaire completed by the subjects was used for data collection. Different statistical tests including Qui-square, ANOVA, coefficient of correlation etc. were used for data analysis.Results Mean scores of knowledge and elements of HBM (perceived sensitivity, benefits, barriers and severity) about Pap smear test in the subjects before and after intervention and within the elements showed a significant correlation. No significant relationship was found between the elements and such variables as the age and number of children of the workers. A significant relationship was found between the elements (perceived sensitivity and benefits) and educational level of the subjects before the intervention and also (perceived sensitivity and barriers) after that. ConclusionInstructing prevention based on HBM can increase knowledge and make attitude positive in voluntary health workers. Keywords: Health Belief Model (HBM), Knowledge, Attitude, Pap smear.   

    Development of a cellulose-based scaffold for sustained delivery of curcumin

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    Due to the unique properties of cellulose-based materials, they are attractive to be developed in industrial pharmaceutics and biomedical fields. Carboxymethyl-diethyl amino ethyl cellulose scaffold (CM-DEAEC) has been synthesized in the current work as a smart novel derivative of cellulose with a great functionality in drug delivery systems. The scaffolds were well cross-linked with 2 (v/v) epichlorohydrin (ECH), loaded with curcumin (Cur), and then were analyzed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical strength. While developing the ideal delivery platform, curcumin (an important chemotherapeutic agent) was chosen due to its hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability. Thus, we developed a novel scaffold for efficient loading and controlled releasing of curcumin. The swelling ratio of 136, high curcumin entrapment efficiency (up to 83.7), sustained in vitro drug release profile, and appropriate degradability in three weeks confirmed significant properties of the CM-DEAEC scaffold. More than 99 antibacterial activity has been observed by the cross-linked curcumin loaded CM-DEAEC scaffolds. Cytotoxicity studies using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and 4�,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining showed that cross-inked curcumin loaded CM-DEAEC scaffolds did not show any toxicity using L929 cells. All experiments were compared with CMC scaffolds and better characteristics of the novel scaffold for drug delivery have been confirmed. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

    A framework for national rehabilitation policy and strategies in iran: A scoping review of experiences in other countries

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    Background: The main objective of this study was to review the goals and programs of rehabilitative care in different countries to achieve a framework for a national operational plan for expanding rehabilitation services in Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study (scoping review), national rehabilitation documents were reviewed in a selected list of countries. We searched several databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar and main website such as WHO. Then, the review results were presented to a panel of experts to receive their feedback and opinion for a framework of national rehabilitation policy and strategies in Iran. Results: In the preliminary phase, 1775 documents were found and 17 documents were selected from Asia, Europe, three islands near Australia, America, and Australia continents. National policies and programs regarding rehabilitation could be categorized in three fields: 1) Removing the barriers to access rehabilitative health services, 2) strengthening and improving rehabilitation, relevant appropriate technologies, Supportive Services, and Community Based Rehabilitation, and 3) Collecting international data on social support and improving the quality of research and services related to rehabilitation. Conclusion: To achieve a successful national rehabilitation framework in any country, it is required to strengthen information and research database, implement annual monitoring of policymaking, assess the next year rehabilitation needs of society, finding causes of disabilities for effective planning. © 2020, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved
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