Assessment of the 4th Medical Students\' Scientific Olympiad in Iran: Theory to action and viewpoints of the participants

Introduction: Scientific Olympiads aim to evaluate the level of creativity, problem-solving skills, ability to reasoning, decision- making and team working skills among the participants. Talented students can be recognized by Olympiads to provide them more focused mentorship and training. This study aims to evaluate the quality and content of the 4th Medical Student' Scientific Olympiad (Med Olympiad) in Iran.Methods: This cross -sectional study was conducted in 2012-2013 on the participants of the 4th Med Olympiad of Iran. The research sample was selected by census. Data collection was performed by a researcher-made questionnaire validated by the investigators. Results: Among the 320 participants from four groups, 61 students (27%) reported the coaching activities of their university high and very high, 76 students (34%) moderate and 88 students (39%) low and very low. The quality of Med Olympiad competition reported 3.1/5±1 and the achievmnet of goals was reported 3.1±1. There was a significant correlation between the level of preparedness in medical universities and ranking of the university (P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between age, sex, academic grade, education, the domain in which the students participated, preparedness level, quality of the competition and access to Med Olympiad goals (P>0.05).Conclusion: Preparation of universities, quality of Med Olympiad and achieving the goals were area for improvements for the next Med Olympiad

An Assessment of the Urban Family Physician Program in Iran from the Viewpoint of Managers and Administrators

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The urban family physician program was implemented in Fars and Mazandaran provinces in June 2012 to provide health services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and improvement of quality of life. Nearly five years after the performance record, this study was conducted to assess the urban family physician program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the managers and administrators of the urban family physician program in all cities of Fars and Mazandaran provinces in the winter of 2016. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire including two parts; the personal variables with 11 open and closed questions and the performance level of the urban family physician program with 18 questions in Likert scale with a score of one to five. The average overall performance of the five points was classified into three levels; poor (below 2.5) average (2.5 - 3.5), and good (above 3.5). FINDINGS: Of 530 managers and administrators of the urban family physician program, 168 people (31.7%) assessed the performance of the program as weak, 295 people (55.7%) assessed it as average and 67 people (12.6%) found it to be good. The average overall performance of five points was assessed to be 2.83 ± 0.64. There was a significant relationship between the province of service, the urban population of the place of service, education, field of study, service record, place of service, and the position of managers and administrators and their judgment in assessing the performance level of the urban family physician program (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that performance level of the urban family physician program was average from the viewpoint of most managers and administrators

Factors Affecting the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index in the First Level of Network System in Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prenatal care is an important strategy for achieving reproductive health. Despite the importance of maternity care in maternal health, some mothers are not adequately cared for. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization (APNCU) Index in the first level of network system in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six provinces of Iran in 2016. Mothers whose date of delivery was 2-6 months before the study were randomly selected. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist and questionnaire containing 34 personal, family-related and environmental questions and 23 prenatal care-related questions based on health records and interviews with mothers and samples were divided into four groups according to the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization index: 1: inadequate (less than 50% of expected care), 2: intermediate (50-79%), 3: adequate (80-109%), 4: adequate plus (110% and more), and the results were analyzed. FINDINGS: Among 2655 studied mothers, the mean of total care during pregnancy was 6.43±1.7 times and according to the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization index, 121 (4.6%) mothers had inadequate care, 603 (22.7%) mothers had intermediate, 1648 (62.1%) mothers had adequate and 283 (10.7%) mothers had adequate plus care. There was a significant relationship between the risk of maternal mortality in each province, urban population, prenatal care, time of first pregnancy care, maternal age, spouse's participation and education level, and adequacy of prenatal care (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the adequacy of prenatal care, although influenced by social and personal factors, is at an appropriate level

Satisfaction of Family Physicians (FPs) about the Effective Factors on Activation of FP Program and Rural Insurance in the Northern Provinces of Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Successful implementation of FP program and rural insurance requires continuous collaboration among the intersectoral and intrasectoral organizations. FPs’ satisfaction from related institutions can lead to more motivation, longer activity and better services in the organization. This study was performed to evaluate the level of FPs’ satisfaction in Northern provinces of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in winter 2013. Totally 139 health centers from 552 which implement the family physician program and rural insurance coverage in Mazandaran, Golestan and Guilan provinces were randomly selected. In each center all of available FPs included. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data gathering. In this questionnaire, personal characteristics with 10 open and closed questions, satisfaction from human and physical resources available at the first level, the function of health center of the city, the function of specialists at the second level, the performance of underlying population of intersectional organizations were asked through 34 questions with Likert scales. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved. FINDINGS: Mean of the level of 188 FPs’ satisfaction about health team, equipment and facilities in the centers (of 5 score) was 3±0.6, underlying population was 2.8±0.8, intersectoral collaboration was 2.8±1, the function of district health center was 2.7±0.9, the function of specialists was 2.1±0.9. The level of FPs’ satisfaction from the specialists of the functional second level showed a significant difference in the Northern provinces of Iran (p=0.001). There was not a significant relationship between age, underlying population, recorded services, the number of replacements and the level of FPs satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the level of FPs’ satisfaction was moderate therefore, interventional program at different levels should be planned and implemented to protect and promote it

Level of Familiarity and Attitude of the Covered Population Regarding the Criteria and Requirements of Iran\'s Urban Family Physician Program

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the health care system, if the service recipients are familiar with the provided services and the defined criteria and gain a positive attitude, they can help the health team to improve the effectiveness of health interventions while having all the provided benefits in the shortest time possible. The present study was conducted to determine the level of familiarity and attitude of the covered population regarding the criteria and requirements of urban family physician program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in winter 2016 among the population covered by the urban family physician program who were randomly selected through cluster sampling. There were 10 households in each cluster, and in each household one person over 20 years of age was questioned. The data were collected and evaluated using a researcher-made questionnaire including two parts of individual variables, and familiarity with the program's criteria and requirements using 34 open-ended and closed-ended questions. FINDINGS: Of 1769 surveyed people, the level of familiarity with the urban family physician program in 551 people (31.1%) was low, in 695 people (39.3%) was moderate, and in 523 people (29.6%) was high. 846 people (56.1%) had a positive attitude and 663 people (43.9%) had a negative attitude toward the criteria and requirements of the program. Eight personal and social variables were effective in the level of familiarity and six variables were effective in the attitude level of individuals (p<0.05).  CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that more than 50% of the covered population had familiarity and positive attitude toward the family physician program, while some of the individual and social variables were also effective

Iranian Husbands\' Involvement in Prenatal Care, Childbirth and Postpartum: Viewpoints of the Mothers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy is one of the most important, critical &nbsp;and at the same time glorious periods in every woman's life that the male involvement plays an important role in promoting prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care and health of both mother and infant. The aim of this study was to determine the level of male involvement in these periods in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six provinces of Iran in 2015. Totally, 2788 mothers with a history of childbirth between 2-6 months were randomly selected for classification. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire containing 34 individual, family and environmental questions and 17 ones were related to the male involvement based on Likert scale with the score of 1-5.&nbsp; Mean higher than 3.5 was considered as higher than average or sufficient involvement. The data were simultaneously collected from health records and through interviews with mothers. FINDINGS: The mean age of 2713 mothers under study was 27.7&plusmn;5.5 years. From the mothers&rsquo; point of view, the mean of men's involvement was 3.60&plusmn;0.72 from at least 0.71 to at most 5.0. The minimum and maximum participations were observed in training class and dealing rationally with the mothers&rsquo; weakness and faintness (2.5&plusmn;1.6) and (4.4&plusmn;0.9), respectively. There was a significant relationship between men's participation and mother's occupation, husband's education, number of pregnancies and children, unwanted pregnancy, bad memories of postpartum period and the areas of maternal death (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that Iranian husbands' involvement in prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum has the acceptable level

Rate Familiarity of the Members of local Organizations in the Northen Provinces of Iran about the Family Physician Programme and Rural Insurance

Introduction: The members of local Organizations in rural regions of Iran can have an effective role in the improvement of health programs due to their resources and logistical influence. Favorable collaboration of them needs sufficienet familiarity and information about the objectives and principles of health programs. This study was Performed to asses the level of familiarity in members of local organizations about the Family Physician (FP) Program and Rural Insurance in Northen Provinces of Iran. Methods: This Cross-Sectional Study was Performed in the Second half of the year 2012. % 25 of health Centers doing FP Program in three Provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, Gillan (totally 139 Centers out of 552 units). In each selected center, available members of dispute resolation council, village coucil, health council, village magor, school manager and native teacher were enrolled in the research. A researcher- made questinnaire which its validity and reliability were Confirmed was used for data gathering. Data analysis was Performed by SPSS17 with Significant level of P<0.05. Results: 521 (84.7%) individuals (out of 601 members of local organizations) were male. The age range was 19-81 years. Mean and standard deviation of participants age was 45±9.7 years. 47.1% of persons had academic education level. Out of total score 27, mean and SD of the familiarity in village magor was 12.4±4, in health council’s members 11.6±3.7, in village council’s members 11.4±4.1, in school managers 10.6±3.3. in dispute resolation council’s members 10.5±5.1 and in native teachers was 8.8±4.9. There were significant relationships between the level of familiarity and being participated in trustees council of the health center, sex and the work type of local organization (p0.05). Conclusion: This Study Showed that the level of familiarity of members of local organizations in rural regions of Iran is not sufficient and interventional Programs must be Planned and Performed for improvement