An evaluation of role of the informational components in decision-making process of health systems’ managers based on World Health Organization’s standards

Background:Objective of current study was to enhance the effectiveness of the organization its goals, health system managers must possess sufficient knowledge about health information systems which are regarded as the basis of decision-making at different managerial levels. The present research tried to explore the extent of meeting the information management components and evaluate its role in decision-making of health systems' managers.Methods:Descriptive-analytical in nature, this study intended to examine the urban and rural health centers as well as health system. Data were collected through a self-designed checklist produced based on the World Health Organization’s standards which include the information presentation (6 components), information interpretation (5 components) and using information in decision-making process (1 component) for urban and rural health centers. The checklist designed for health system included needs-analysis and information collection, presentation, processing and interpretation components. The gathered data were then put into SPSS version of 13 and analyzed using independent t-test.Results:The findings of the study revealed that compared to urban centers, the rural health centers had a higher level in meeting the components in 3 main areas i.e. information presentation, information interpretation and information use in decision-making process (P <0.05). As far as sub-measures were concerned, the rural health centers gained a higher mean score for data presentation in the health system and other interpretation-related components (P <0.05). The level of meeting data presentation components revealed that the mean score for using data for decision-making purposes was high while the mean score for data processing was found to be low.  Conclusion: Proper processing and appropriate use of data in the decision-making by the managers and public policy-makers are the missing requirements which must be taken into account.

Clinical and official users’ readiness for hospital information system implementation in Valiyasr Hospital of Boroujen

زمینه و هدف: سنجش میزان آگاهی و دانش کاربران هنگام پیاده سازی یک سیستم اطلاعات مبتنی بر فناوری روز دنیا از ضروریات است؛ بنابراین این پژوهش با قصد ارزیابی آمادگی و بررسی میزان آگاهی کاربران درمانی و اداری از سیستم اطلاعات بیمارستانی در هنگام پیاده سازی این سیستم انجام شده است. روش بررسی: این پژوهش یک مطالعه توصیفی –تحلیلی است که جامعه آن را کاربران درمانی و اداری بیمارستان ولی عصر(عج) بروجن تشکیل داده است. نمونه گیری به روش سرشماری و شامل 60 نفر از کاربران بود. برای جمع آوری داده ها از پرسشنامه ای محقق ساخته مبتنی بر ارزیابی دانش رایانه ای کاربران (10 مولفه)، امکان آموزش مطلوب (10مولفه)، خود توصیف کننده بودن سیستم (12 مولفه) و مطابقت سیستم با نیازهای کاربران (19مولفه) براساس استاندارد ایزو 10/9241 استفاده شد. یافته ها: میانگین نمره دانش رایانه ای کاربران 5/17±27/44، میانگین نمره آموزش مطلوب کاربران 38/8±36/45، میانگین نمره خود توصیف کننده بودن سیستم 57/15±34/47 و میانگین نمره مطابقت سیستم با نیازهای کاربران 00/15± 45/39 بود. همچنین بین دانش رایانه‌ای کاربران و امکان آموزش مطلوب آنان رابطه معنی داری وجود داشت (0/04=P) و بین دانش رایانه ای و خودتوصیف کننده بودن سیستم و نیز مطابقت با نیازهای کاربران رابطه معنی داری مشاهده شد (0/008=P). نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج این پژوهش، مدیران و سیاستگذاران اجرایی در هنگام پیاده سازی خدمات فناوری در نظام سلامت باید به ارزیابی سطح دانش کاربر، شناسایی سیستم و رفع نیازهای کاربر از طریق سیستم توجه داشته تا در جهت افزایش بهره وری آن موثر باشند

An assessment and comparison of information quality of hospital information systems in medical-teaching hospitals of the city of Isfahan based on delone and McLean's modified model

Background: Taking the positive effects of the hospital information systems on patients' treatment process and organization's function into account, it is necessary to evaluate information quality provided by such systems. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess and compare information quality of hospital information systems in medical- teaching hospitals of Isfahan based on the DeLone and McLean's modified Model. Methodology: This research was applied and analytical-descriptive in nature and was performed in medical-teaching hospitals of Isfahan in 2010. Research population consisted of hospital information system's users, system developers and IT authorities selected by random sampling method. Data collection instrument was self-designed questionnaire. Questionnaires' reliability was estimated by using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient that was found to be 94.08 and 96.8 for system users' questionnaire and system developers and IT authorities' questionnaire, respectively. Results: According to the findings of the study, the difference between the mean scores gained for information quality of all kinds of HISs and different hospitals were statistically significant, i.e. they were not the same (p<0.05). Generally, Kowsar system (new version) and Rahavard Rayaneh system gained the highest and lowest mean score, respectively. The total mean scores obtained for observing the standards stipulated for information quality was 60.2 for all hospital information systems and 60.8 for different hospitals, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of the research, it can be inferred that based on the applied model, the levelof observing the criteria of hospital information system was rather optimum. Thus, in order to reach a completely optimum condition, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the factors improving information quality, type of activity, type of specialty and property type

Cytology and palynology of the Clematis L. species (Ranunculaceae) in Iran

Cytological and palynological studies were performed on Clematis L. species (Runanculaceae) of Iran indicating 2n = 2´ = 16 and 2n = 4´ = 32 in them. They formed only bivalents in metaphase of meiosis-I with some amount of chromosome stickiness and laggard formation in anaphase. The species possessed a symmetrical karyotype but differed in karyotypic formulae indicating the occurrence of structural changes in the chromosomes during species diversification. Clematis species usually possessed tricolpate pollens but differed in details of pollen morphology, colpi length, colpi width and apocolium length

Analysis of the quality of hospital information systems in Hospital Information Systems in Private Hospital of Isfahan Based on the DeLone and McLean Model

زمینه و هدف: یکی از مهم ترین معیارهای موفقیت یک سیستم اطلاعاتی، کیفیت سیستم است که به ویژگی های مطلوب خود سیستم اطلاعاتی اشاره دارد. هدف این پژوهش بررسی تحلیلی و مقایسه‌ کیفیت سیستم های اطلاعات بیمارستانی بر اساس مدل دلن و مک لین در بیمارستان های خصوصی شهر اصفهان بود. روش بررسی: این مطالعه توصیفی- تحلیلی در بیمارستان های خصوصی شهر اصفهان در سال 90 انجام شد. جامعه پژوهش شامل کاربران، طراحان سیستم و مسئولین فناوری اطلاعات بیمارستان بودند که با استفاده از روش نمونه گیری تصادفی82 نفر از گروه کاربران و با استفاده از روش سرشماری 19 نفر از طراحان و مسئولین فناوری اطلاعات بیمارستان انتخاب شدند. ابزار جمع آوری داده ها دو پرسشنامه محقق ساخته بر اساس معیار کیفیت سیستم، منطبق برمدل دلن و مک لین بود. یافته ها: یافته ها نشان داد که میانگین نمره کیفیت سیستم در انواع سیستم های اطلاعات بیمارستانی و در بین بیمارستان های مختلف تفاوت معنادار داشته است (

A survey on the users' satisfaction with the hospital information systems (HISs) based on DeLone and McLean's model in the medical-teaching hospitals in Isfahan city

Background and purpose: The user's satisfaction with information system in fact denotes the extent the user is satisfied with the system's achievement in fulfilling his/her information requirements. This study tries to explore the users' satisfaction with hospital information systems (HISs) based on DeLone and McLean's model focusing on the medical-teaching hospitals of Isfahan city. Methodology: This study which was applied and descriptive-analytical in nature was carried out in the medical-teaching hospitals of Isfahan city in 2009. Research population consisted of the system users from which a sample was selected using random sampling method. The size of the sample was 228. Data collection instrument was a self-developed questionnaire produced based on the satisfaction criterion in the DeLone and McLean's model. Its content validity was assessed based on the opinions given by the computer sciences professionals with its estimated Cronbach's alpha found to be 92.2. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Findings: As the findings of the study showed, the differences among the mean scores obtained for the satisfaction with different kinds of HISs in use in the hospitals were statistically significant (p value≤0.05). Generally, Kowsar System (old version) and Pouya Samaneh Diva system gained the highest and lowest mean scores for the criterion in question, respectively. The overall mean score for the satisfaction was 54.6 for different types of systems and 55.6 among the hospitals. Conclusion: Given the findings of the study, it can be argued that based on the used model, the level of users' satisfaction with the systems in question was relatively good. However, to achieve the total optimum condition, when designing the system, the factors affecting the enhancement of the users' satisfaction and the type of hospital activity and specialty must be given special consideration. © AVICENA 2014

Micromorphological, anatomical and molecular study of Hedera species (Araliaceae) in Iran

Hedera, with 12 extant species, is a genus of evergreen climbers native to Europe, north Africa, and south Asia. In this study, the micromorphological, anatomical structure and molecular evidences of 11 populations from two species of Hedera (H. helix and H. pastuchovii) have been considered to evaluate the relationships in Hedera. In total, seven quantitative and qualitative characters of pollen were selected and measured. Based on this study, the anticlinal wall and surface sculpturing of seed support for separation of two species of Hedera. Micromorphology of epidermis illustrated two types of epidermal cells: puzzle-shaped and polygonal cells. Using nuclear (nrDNA ITS) marker, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within two species of Hedera. This data set was analyzed by phylogenetic methods including Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony. In phylogenetic analyses, all members of two species formed a well-supported clade (PP = 1; ML/BS = 100/100) and divided into two major clades (A and B). Neighbor Net diagram demonstrated separation of the studied populations. The results showed that these taxa differ in taxonomically important micromorphological, anatomical and molecular characteristics and these data provide reliable evidence for separation of these two species

The effects of radiofrequency on the bacteriological and histological characteristics of tonsils in patients with chronic and persistent tonsillitis

Objectives: Tonsillotomy with radiofrequency (RF) is one of the newest treatments for chronic tonsillitis, but the mechanism of RF effects and complications are still pending. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RF on the histological and bacteriological characteristics of the tonsils (Case-control study). Materials and methods: In fifty-two patients with chronic tonsillitis in 2017–2018, immediately after tonsillectomy, the tonsils were divided into 2sections; one sample treated with RF, and the other one considered as control, without intervention. All tonsil samples sent for histological and bacteriological study: morphometric assays made by Digitizer software, and type of bacterial colonies identified by microbiological and biochemical tests. Willcoxon and McNemar tests were used for statistical analysis and level of significance was p ≤ .05. Results: Tonsil mucosal thickness (2202.98 ± 323.09 vs. 2463.94 ± 357.61 μm) and size of the tonsil nodule (28,000.42 ± 9608.75 vs. 36,692.81 ± 7040.74 μm2 ) were significantly lower in the RF+ group than other group (p = .001 and p = .01, respectively). There was no significant differences in thickness of the tonsil epithelium (p = .075), number of lymphoid nodules (p = .860), and the number of reticular tonsil epithelium (p = .813) between the two groups. Bacterial growth in RF- and RF+ groups had no statistically significant difference (p = .06), however, the average colony count of S. aureus in RF+ tonsils were significantly lower, and total number of bacterial colonies were significantly lower in RF+ group(1405 ± 156 vs. 2471 ± 156), (p = .001). Conclusion: RF surgery has significant effects on size of the nodules, thickness of the mucous layer and bacteriological characteristics of tonsil tissue. Especially S. aureus seems to be more sensitive to RF effects

Trehalose: A promising new treatment for traumatic brain injury? A systematic review of animal evidence

Background: TBI is a major global health issue due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Persistent neurodegeneration following secondary brain injuries is a significant concern. Trehalose, a naturally occurring disaccharide, has shown potential therapeutic effects in preclinical TBI models. This study systematically reviews the preclinical and clinical data on trehalose as a potential TBI treatment. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of trehalose’s role in TBI treatment following PRISMA guidelines. Our search spanned from the inception of PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science until August 2023. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The quality of the studies was assessed using SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool for animal studies. Results: Out of sixty-six records reviewed, four animal studies were included. These studies indicated that trehalose enhanced motor and cognitive functions, reduced oxidative damage and inflammation, regulated metal dyshomeostasis, increased neurotrophic factors and synaptic proteins, and improved autophagy and mitochondrial function in mouse/rat TBI models. However, a significant risk of bias was noted. Conclusion: Trehalose demonstrates potential as a TBI treatment. However, more rigorous, and comprehensive research is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans