Relationship between Health Care Organization Management Standards of the Joint Commission International and Health Tourism in Selected Hospitals in Tehran

Introduction: Health tourism is an organized travel we make from where we live to another place to keep, regain, and improve physical and mental health. It can be also a national strategy to improve national income and some believe that it can be an integral part of national security. The present study is an attempt to determine the relationship between observance of the standards of international Joint Commission regarding structural-centered fields and number of health tourists attracted to a country. Methods: The study is a descriptive-analytical work of applied type, which was conducted as cross-sectional work in 2012 on some of Tehran-based hospitals. Sampling was carried out randomly and for data gathering the standard checklist of the commission was employed. The tool covered six Health Care Organization Management Standards. Reliability and validity of the checklist have been ascertained by previous works. Data was collected through observing, interviewing, and document reviewing. For data analyses, descriptive and deductive statistics were used in SPSS16. Results: Observance of the standard regarding its different aspects is not equal as regarding infection prevention and control (3.48) we found highest mean point and the lowest position was obtained by improvement of quality and patients’ safety (2.52). A relatively positive correlation (r=0.114) was observed between observance of the standards of the commission and attracting health tourists. Conclusion: Given the results obtained, it is notable that the development and implementation of an accreditation system for health services centers nationwide, which is aimed to improve quality of health services in light of the standards of International Joint Commission is helpful in attracting more health tourists. </span

Intestinal parasitic infections among expatriate workers in various occupations in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT Intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent throughout many countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite carriers among 21,347 expatriate workers, including food handlers and housemaids attending the public health center laboratory in Sharjah, UAE. Stool sample collection was performed throughout the period between January and December 2013. All samples were examined microscopically. Demographic data were also obtained and analyzed. Intestinal parasites were found in 3.3% (708/21,347) of the studied samples (single and multiple infections). Among positive samples, six hundred and eighty-three samples (96.5%) were positive for a single parasite: Giardia lamblia (257; 36.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (220; 31.1%), respectively, whereas mono-infections with helminths accounted for 206 (29.1%) of the samples. Infection rates with single worms were: Ascaris lumbricoides (84; 11.9%), Hookworm (34; 4.8%), Trichuris trichiura (33; 4.7%), Taenia spp. (27; 3.81%), Strongyloides stercoralis (13; 1.8%), Hymenolepis nana (13; 1.8%), and Enterobius vermicularis (2; 0.28%), respectively. Infections were significantly associated with gender (x2 = 14.18; p = 0.002) with males as the most commonly infected with both groups of intestinal parasites (protozoa and helminths). A strong statistical association was noted correlating the parasite occurrence with certain nationalities (x2= 49.5, p <0.001). Furthermore, the study has also found a strong statistical correlation between parasite occurrence and occupation (x2= 15.60; p = 0.029). Multiple infections were not common (3.5% of the positive samples), although one individual (0.14%) had four helminth species, concurrently. These findings emphasized that food handlers with different pathogenic parasitic organisms may pose a significant health risk to the public

Analysis Of Management Functional Dimensions Using Weisbord Model In Hospitals Of Tehran University Of Medical Sciences

Background and Aim: Analysis of functions enables organizations to identify their special capabilities and weak points accurately and thus they can enhance capabilities and reduce impacts of threats and obstacles through such analysis. The main goal of this work is investigation of status of Weisbord&nbsp;Model's variables (6 variables) as functional dimensions of management in hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive - analytical study. The study population consisted of 384 staffs from hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Standardized questionnaire for organization recognition was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, frequency percentage) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient and significance level) were used for statistical analysis and data analysis was run using SPSS software. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference (p=0.0001) in hospitals in terms of the internal situation. Internal situation of all hospitals in the study was evaluated as favorable condition by obtaining 94.5 score out of 125. Among the hospitals, Hashemi-Nejad Hospital with highest score (113) showed the better condition and Rasoul Hospital had the lowest score (87) and lower condition as compared to other hospitals. Conclusion: Necessity of systematic perspective in designing and development of fair compensation mechanism with presence of representatives of employees is an action which can considerably influence improvement of current situation in the hospitals and facilitates achieving predetermined goals of the organizatio

Measuring Efficiency of Knowledge Production in Health Research Centers Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): A Case Study in Iran

Introduction: Efficiency analysis is necessary in order to avoid waste of materials, energy, effort, money, and time during scientific research. Therefore, analyzing efficiency of knowledge production in health areas is necessary, especially for developing and in-transition countries. As the first step in this field, the aim of this study was the analysis of selected health research center efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Methods: This retrospective and applied study was conducted in 2015 using input and output data of 16 health research centers affiliated with a health sciences university in Iran during 2010–2014. The technical efficiency of health research centers was evaluated based on three basic data envelopment analysis (DEA) models: input- oriented, output-oriented, and hyperbolic-oriented. The input and output data of each health research center for years 2010–2014 were collected from the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHE) profile and analyzed by R software. Results: The mean efficiency score in input-oriented, output-oriented, and hyperbolic-oriented models was 0.781, 0.671, and 0.798, respectively. Based on results of the study, half of the health research centers are operating below full efficiency, and about one-third of them are operating under the average efficiency level. There is also a large gap between health research center efficiency relative to each other. Conclusion: It is necessary for health research centers to improve their efficiency in knowledge production through better management of available resources. The higher level of efficiency in a significant number of health research centers is achievable through more efficient management of human resources and capital. Further research is needed to measure and follow the efficiency of knowledge production by health research centers around the world and over a period of time

Model for Implementing Evidence Based Health Care System in Iran

Background: Regarding the role and importance of paradigm of evidence based practice and its remarkable impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of clinical services and healthcare, development of an integrated system seems necessary in order to manage dispersed data and ensure using evidence in clinical decision making, thus the aim of this study was designing a model for implementing national system of evidence based health care in Iran.Methodos: This paper is a study of comparative type which has been written in three stages: investigation of structure and process of evidence based practice in selected countries, investigation and analysis of current status in Iran in this regard and recommendation of strategies which make model implementation feasible in the country. Such methods as review of literature, focus group discussion and Delphi technique were used for investigation.Results: According to studies, insuring an evidence based practice culture in the country requires a system called National Evidence Based Health Care System which consists of three subsystems including national system of clinical knowledge management, national evidence-based practice system and integrated national network of clinical effectiveness.Conclusion: The ultimate goal of health care system in every country is maintaining and improving community health. Achievement of this goal depends on effectiveness of delivered services and consistency of the services with national and local priorities. In order to achieve clinical effectiveness, the best practice should be realized in the country, implementation of which requires a set of macro and micro strategies enabling facilitation, promotion or guaranteeing clinical knowledge application in the country

Average and frequency distribution of access to health services in geographical, physical, time dimensions and acceptability of services in terms of studied samples.

Average and frequency distribution of access to health services in geographical, physical, time dimensions and acceptability of services in terms of studied samples.</p

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IntroductionAccess to healthcare for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is an important but often ignored issue for achieving universal health coverage. The current study aimed to investigate PWDs’ access to healthcare in the rural areas in north of Iran.MethodsFollowing a descriptive-analytical design, 471 persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in the Nor city, Mazandaran province, were selected using quota sampling. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire that contained dimensions of time, geography, physical, and acceptability using face-to-face interviews. The findings are provided by central and dispersion indicators and analyses are performed with linear Regression using SPSS version 17.ResultsPWDs had moderate access to healthcare services in all dimensions. The regression models for access to health services in all four dimensions were significant (pConclusionA small percentage of PWDs had high access to health services. Hence, improving their access to healthcare services, particularly in rural and less developed areas, and developing appropriate policies should be the focus of Iranian policy-makers.</div

Results of regression estimates between study variables and access to health services.

Results of regression estimates between study variables and access to health services.</p

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IntroductionAccess to healthcare for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is an important but often ignored issue for achieving universal health coverage. The current study aimed to investigate PWDs’ access to healthcare in the rural areas in north of Iran.MethodsFollowing a descriptive-analytical design, 471 persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in the Nor city, Mazandaran province, were selected using quota sampling. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire that contained dimensions of time, geography, physical, and acceptability using face-to-face interviews. The findings are provided by central and dispersion indicators and analyses are performed with linear Regression using SPSS version 17.ResultsPWDs had moderate access to healthcare services in all dimensions. The regression models for access to health services in all four dimensions were significant (pConclusionA small percentage of PWDs had high access to health services. Hence, improving their access to healthcare services, particularly in rural and less developed areas, and developing appropriate policies should be the focus of Iranian policy-makers.</div