Comparative study of branding in Iranian public hospitals and some other public hospitals in selected countries

Applying branding models by health sectors of other countries, leads to delivering quality products and services tailored to customer needs. The objective was a comparative study of branding in Iranian public hospitals and some other public hospitals in selected countries. In this descriptive-comparative study, hospitals that have implemented successful branding were selected from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Ireland, South Korea and South Africa. A similar public hospital in Iran was also entered in this study. To collect data of hospitals under study, papers, and dissertations of electronic databases i.e. NHS, WHO and reports of selected hospitals were utilized. Collected data were summarized and classified based on the variables of the study and compared and analyzed in comparative tables. Each of the hospitals under study has taken some measures such as organization's competitive position, branding strategies, established brand and relationship with customers and has utilized the results to attract more patients and reduce the health expenditures; While Iran has limited experience in using this model in public hospitals. With regard to actions taken in selected hospitals to extend the branding, using their experiences in Iran, drafting, and adoption of policies and guidelines in this regard due to Iran's local conditions are highly recommended

Designing the maternal and child health services package based on comparative study of developed countries models

Introduction: Community women�s health is more vulnerable than men due to various reasons, in addition to biological characteristics; it is influenced by cultural, social, economic and political factors. Nowadays,managing maternal health development is one of the World Health Organization priorities.This study was performed with aim to improve maternal and child health service package in Iran by providing variables derived from a comparative study conducted in selected developed countries. Methods: In thiscomparative study, the studied countries(Singapore, Australia, England and Japan) wereselectedby comparingmaternal-child healthindicators from different continentsusing cluster sampling and with studying of their maternal and child health service package through referring to valid health documents, important variablesanddimensions were identified, and based on itand designed comparative tables, the conclusion was made. Results: Free sportsandtraining classeswiththe husbands� presence, extensive maternal network emergency as specialized and boarding, varietyof vehicles fortransportto emergency centers,emotional supportpackages, home visit and delivery, newbornsfreesurgical facilitiesandcare, pregnant womenscreeningfacilitiesfor free, guideline booklet and unifiedrecording of servicesin allcountrycenters are the factorsidentified in successfulmaternal-child health servicespackage. Conclusion: The role ofsome identified factors such as home visit and deliveryis loworabsent in Iran health service package. Implementation ofthesuggested factors canplay an important rolein promotingmaternal-child healthindicators inIran. � 2016, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Challenges of implementation of hospital accreditation in Iran: an exploratory factor analysis

Background: Today, accreditation is considered as the most commonly used health assessment approach. Considering the importance and application of the process of this approach in the hospital, this study aimed to investigate the challenges of implementation of hospital accreditation in Iran using exploratory factor analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out from July to December 2017, consisting of 200 managers in the seven hospitals accredited by the MOH in Tehran, Iran. Samples were selected through the purposive sampling method, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire in which validity and reliability were confirmed. Likert�s five-choice range was used for the rating of items. Exploratory factor analysis was used to categorize the identified challenges and extract the mathematical model on them. Results: Exploratory factor analysis identified six dimensions (implementation, evaluation, content, structural, psychological, and managerial) with 40 items using a 5-point Likert scale. Each dimension accounted for greater than 63.20 of the total variance. The scale had strong content validity (indices = 0.84). Each dimension of Cronbach�s alpha ranged from 0.74 to 0.94. Implementation, evaluation, content, structural, psychological, and managerial components also formed the final identified areas. Conclusion: The present study showed that there were major challenges in the path to successful deployment of Iranian hospital accreditation, requiring serious action by managers and policymakers in this field. © 2020, The Author(s)

Relationship between personal characteristics of specialist physicians and choice of practice location in Iran

Introduction: Uneven geographic distribution of physicians is a major healthcare issue in Iran. This study aimed to explore the relationship between personal characteristics of the recently graduated specialist physicians in Iran and their choice of practice location. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to extract information with regard to 3825 recently graduated specialist physicians from all medical schools across Iran between 2009 and 2012. The relationship between physicians' personal attributes and their desire to practise in underdeveloped areas was analyzed using �2 test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Birthplace, sex, exposure to rural practice before residency program, place of residence, and year of graduation were associated with physicians' desire to practise in an underdeveloped area. The logistic regression showed that female physicians were less likely to choose underdeveloped areas to practise as compared with their male counterparts (OR=0.659, 95CI, 0.557-0.781, p�0.001). Physicians who lived in underdeveloped areas were nine times more likely to choose underdeveloped areas to practise as compared with those living in other areas (OR=8.966, 95CI, 4.717-17.041, p�0.001). Physicians who did not have previous exposure to rural practice were 28 less likely to choose to serve in the underdeveloped areas as compared to those who had such exposure (OR=0.780, 95CI, 0.661-0.922, p=0.004). Neither physicians' marital status nor their success in the board certification exam was associated with their choice of practice location. Conclusions: It seems that increasing the enrollment of physicians with a rural background in residency programs may solve the problem of uneven distribution of specialist physicians in Iran. Because female physicians are less willing to work in the underdeveloped areas than male physicians, increasing the number of male student admissions to residency programs, particularly in certain specialties that are more in demand in the underdeveloped areas, could alleviate the problem of uneven distribution of physicians in the short run. Further, programs that support raising the admissions of female students with a rural background into local medical universities along with providing incentives to encourage them to live and work in rural areas should be put on the policy agenda. © James Cook University 2016

Designing a model for hospital services globalization in Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Globalization and planning for global thinking and institutions' activity that could work and act out of national limit are important actions which should be taken in Iran. Globalization is a progressive power in health index promotion. This aim of this study was to design a model for globalization of hospital services in Iran in order to promote the participation in patient attraction for diagnostic and medical services in hospitals from different countries in 2009. METHODS: This descriptive- comparative and cross sectional study was performed on some selected countries such as United States of America, England, India, Thailand and Malaysia. The hospital's information related to selected countries was marketing mechanism, equipment and hospital's facilities. The original model prepared based on data gathering form. This model was tested using Delphi technique and obtained data were analyzed and then the final model was introduced. FINDINGS: The results of studies in selected countries showed that developed countries like America and England have strong basis of management structure, knowledge, modern and complex technology. India, Thailand and Malaysia because of their success to present hospital services on the international level and successful marketing in this connection and arrived the developed countries technologies in previous decade have been able to have effective part presented international services. The designed model in this research, in attention to basis obtained has presented according to Iran qualifications. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, with utilization of possibilities and capacities in Iran, the proposed model can greatly contribute to globalization of hospital services

A model for priority setting of health technology assessment: The experience of AHP-TOPSIS combination approach

Background: In recent times, the use of health technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases experienced considerable and accelerated growth. The goal of the present study was to describe the designated pilot MCDM (Multiple Criteria Decision Making) model for priority setting of health technology assessment in Iran. Methods: Relevant articles were sought and retrieved from the most appropriate medical databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Scopus via three separate search strategies, using MESH and free text until March, 2015. Retrieved criteria were questioned from health technology assessment experts in two rounds and the relative weight for valid criteria was finally obtained from paired wise comparison method. After extraction of relative weights based on the aforementioned procedure, TOPSIS (The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) priority setting model was designed. The stated model was applied for assessing three technologies (adenosine, tissue plasminogen activator and mechanical thrombectomy) which were available for projects call of Iranian health technology assessment department in order to determine applicability of the model for practical purpose. Results: Nine criteria, including efficiency/effectiveness, safety, population size, vulnerable population size, availability of alternative technologies, cost effectiveness in other countries, budget impact, financial protection, quality of evidence, were extracted by the Iranian health technology assessment experts. The relative weights of these criteria were as follows 0.12, 0.2, 0.06, 0.08, 0.08, 0.13, 0.08, 0.09, and 0.15, respectively. Finally TOPSIS pilot model was designed by three health technologies and nine criteria relative weights. Results showed that, the applicability of the stated model was suitable and as the pilot testing, tissue plasminogen activator was the first priority, adenosine was second and mechanical thrombectomy was third for performing health technology assessment by the Iranian ministry of health and medical education. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, this model with nine effective criteria and their relative weights and in combination with TOPSIS approach could be used with suitable applicability by health technology assessment department in deputy of curative affairs and food and drug organization for determination of research priorities in health technology assessment. © 2016 Mobinizadeh et al

A Study of Causes of Readmission Patients Toxicological Ward of the Loghman Hakim Hospital, in Tehran in 2014

Introduction: Readmission to hospital because of the impact on the cost and quality of hospital care and Impose an additional burden on the healthcare system, Is an important priority for hospital managers. The aim of Study Was causes of readmission patients toxicological ward of the loghman hakim hospital, Research in Tehran. Method: This is an applied cross-sectional retrospective study. Research community included Admissions in 1393 in toxicological ward of the loghman hakim hospital. Research Size based on Morgan is 300 clinical records. Sampling Method was simple randomly. Readmission in the present study in hospitalized form was more than one defined. Demographic data includes (age, gender, marital status, occupation, education and variables related to hospitalization (hospitalization Frequency, length of stay, and poisoning quality, discharge situation, referral and insurance) by means of information form was extracted from records. In two level Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (correlation chi-square test, dependent T test and Chi-square test) were analyzed using SPSS21 software and hypothesis testing was done. Finding: During the study period300 readmission cases were hospitalized in toxicological ward of the loghman hakim hospital.13/4% patient was readmission. The readmission cause in 41/6% patient was related to family issues. It Can be named respectively emotional, spiritual, and addiction with regard to other topics. The total cost of treating patients was 206521754 Rials. The average cost of stay per patient 10256639 Rials, payment by patient 928136 Rials, and Subsidies health payment by health ministry was 1834370 Rials. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, several factors may be involved in readmission to hospital patients poisons ,the most important of them can be mentioned in the four ares of family problems, emotional problems, mental problems and addiction

Factors affecting the quality of hospital hotel services from the patients and their companions� point of view: A national study in Iran

Background: The hospitality design of a hospital is a complex process that depends on careful planning, systematic thinking, and consideration of various factors. This study aimed to determine the viewpoints of patients and their relatives on factors affecting hospital hotel services in Iran in 2015. The results of this study can be used to design a suitable model for the assessment and improvement of hospitality service quality. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 10 hospitals of Iran were included. The subjects of the study included 480 patients and their companions from different internal and surgical wards. Simple random sampling method was performed at the hospitals, where patients were selected through stratified sampling based on hospital wards, and in each ward, through systematic sampling based on the bed numbers. A researcher-made questionnaire was used as the study tool which was developed through reviewing the literature and opinions of experts. Its internal reliability was determined based on Cronbach�s alpha coefficient (α =0.85). Results: In reviewing the eleven aspects of hospital hotel services regarding the patients� and their companions� viewpoint, services related to all aspects, whether human, economic, operational, personnel identification, safety, health care services, physical, clinical welfare, cultural, patient guidance, or public welfare services, received mean scores of higher than three (out of five). Conclusion: The present study showed that in the patients� and their companions� viewpoint, factors affecting hospital hotel services in the country are very important. The tool used in this study can be a criterion for assessing the status of the hotel services of the country�s major hospitals, so accordingly, the assessment and improvement of the existing conditions can be possible. © 2016 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Analysis of the relationships between the determinants influential in performance of pre-hospital emergency system of iran using the DEMATEL approach

Introduction: Emergency care must be understood as a complete system with independent components. Considering the high statistics of the cardiovascular diseases and unintentional events in Iran, the pre-hospital emergency system in the country needs fundamental changes. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants influential in performance of the pre-hospital emergency system of Iran and analysis of the relationships among them. Methodology: This research is of the comparative-descriptive studies type, and it has been accomplished by using cross -sectional design during the first half of the year 2009. The research population included 10 pre-hospital emergency experts, and special forms, together with Nominal Group Technique (NGT), were used as data gathering tools. Also the DEMATEL approach and MATLAB software were used for analysis of the data. Findings: The most important determinants influential in the performance of the Pre-hospital emergency system of Iran include the "organization," "transportation," "communications," "accessibility," "care model," "manpower combination," "regulations," and the "training," among which the "organization" and the "care model" have been identified as the most influential and the most influenced determinants respectively. Discussion: Although the prep-hospital emergency system of Iran has grown quantitatively, to develop fundamentally from both the qualitative and the quantitative point of view, it needs structural modifications which will establish an independent emergency medical care organization, and integrated management of pre-hospital and hospital emergency systems. Compiling the regulations and standards of reviewing the specialized training courses while training the people are also of considerable importance for implementing reforms

Providing an evaluation model for service recipient support in accreditation of police hospitals: A mixed-method study

Background and Aim: Police hospitals provide specialized and general care services to staff, soldiers, and the public, according to their main mission, which is to support police missions in different situations. Some clients of these hospitals have rights that need to be considered due to special circumstances. This study aimed to design and validate the evaluation model of service recipient supports in the accreditation of police hospitals. Methods: The present study was a mixed-method conducted in three phases in 2020 includes library, qualitative, and Delphi phases. At the first, using the appropriate keywords and a thorough review of the literature in the main databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, related military websites, as well as existing documents and instructions, all sources related to the support of the recipient in public and Police hospitals were identified. Also, to identify more structures, infrastructures, and standards, 9 policymakers and officials of the Department of Health, rescue and treatment were interviewed and after analyzing them, the initial questionnaire of the evaluation model of service recipient support in police hospitals was designed. Then the validity of the model was confirmed using the Delphi method and a survey of 45 experts and key informants in police hospitals by descriptive statistics. Results: The proposed model was presented for evaluating the service recipient supports in police hospitals in four main dimensions include providing the necessary facilities for special services recipients, planning and managing medical councils and medical services, the satisfaction of clients, patients, and their families with services and the charter of patients' rights to special clients. Conclusion: This study led to the design of an evaluation model for service recipients in Police hospitals in the form of 4 dimensions and 15 indicators that can be used as a comprehensive tool and complementary to current evaluation methods such as national accreditation standards of Iranian hospitals, evaluates the service recipients in these hospitals. © 2020 Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved