نشریه مدیریت اطلاعات سلامت
سال پانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 59، فروردین و اردیبهشت 1397)

Monitoring hospital information systems requires developing key indicators and criteria for efficiency and effectiveness, and consequently fulfillment of organizational objectives, including safety and quality. The purpose of this study was benchmarking of key indicators of hospital information systems.

This research was based on qualitative methodology with two phases. It was carried out in Ahwaz City, Iran, during the years 2015 and 2016. In the first phase, we conducted purposeful sampling using snowball technique. In the second phase, ranking of the key indicators of benchmarking operation of hospital information system (HIS) was conducted using Delphi technique. The method of data analysis in the first phase was based on a thematic content analysis, and primary and secondary themes were extracted through descriptive, interpretative, and explanatory coding. For the second phase, SPSS software was used to analyze quantitative findings and their ranking.

After performing 14 semi-structured interviews with the study participants, the key benchmarking indicators for hospital information system were identified with 8 main themes including hardware, software, support services, vendors, output quality, workflow process, design/interface, and costs, and 76 subthemes, prioritized through Delphi method.

Benchmarking intended for comparison and improvement of the various hospital systems such as hospital information system, is one of the very helpful instruments in the hands of the managers working in this field. The indicators identified during this research will provide a comprehensive tool for benchmarking of hospital information system. By applying these benchmarks continuously, there is a good possibility to improve the operation of such systems.

Pregnancy is one of the most sensitive and important periods of a woman’s life. It is necessary to have a proper diet program based on physiologic changes and individual characteristics during pregnancy in order to meet the needs of mother and fetus, weight control, and prevention of different diseases and complications. The aim of this research was to implement an expert system for weight control surveillance and nutritional consulting.

This study was an applied and descriptive study as performed on a random sample of 100 pregnant women. The system designing was created using expert systems methods based on rules and forward chaining technique. The web-based expert system was designed in two sections: weight controlling and suggestive diet. Then, the system output was compared with the actual advices provided by nutrition experts.

Using kappa index in SPSS software, the similarity of the results of designed system to the diagnosis by nutritionist was 0.89 (very strong) in weight control surveillance, and 0.79 (strong) in proposed diet.

The findings of the study show that such systems can play an effective helping role in promoting healthy diet, weight control, and using diet among pregnant women, especially those who cannot easily access an expert nutritionist in some areas.

Due to the widespread use of mobile-based systems, and the low cost of this technology, application of mobile-based self-management system can lead to adherence to the treatment and promotion of the health for the people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of this study was to identify requirements for the mobile-based self-management system for these people.

This study was a descriptive one, carried out in two main phases in year 2017. In the first stage, in order to identify the requirements for the mobile-based self-management system, similar articles were searched and reviewed, and in the second phase, identified requirements were validated using a researcher-made questionnaire. The statistical population was infectious diseases specialists affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods.

The requirements for the self-management system were identified in four categories: demographic data requirements, clinical data requirements, technical capabilities, and self-management strategies. Furthermore, according to the research community' attitude, six data elements for demographic category, 10 data elements for clinical category, 11 features for technical capabilities, and 10 items for self-management strategies were selected.

Use of proposed requirements strategies can improve the self-management skills and medication adherence of the people living with human immunodeficiency virus, and facilitate their communication with health care providers.

Training competent and capable human resources in order to meet community needs is one of the most important challenges of higher education. This research aimed to revise the curriculum of the Master of Science (MSc) level in health services management in order to meet the needs of health sector.

This study was carried out using quantitative-qualitative method. The first stage was conducted in a comparative manner, while in the second stage, structured interviews were conducted with a sample population selected through non-probability quota sampling. The data of the first and second stages were analyzed using Bereday model and content analysis, respectively, with the help of SPSS software.

According to comparative study, similarities and differences of 24 universities from 15 countries were extracted and compared with Iran. Then, stakeholders were identified at three organizational levels. In addition to changing the titles of some major courses, 25 specialized courses and 28 optional courses were categorized in eight priorities according to their importance and necessity. 63.2% of the stakeholders did not agree the current career opportunities; while 73.3% agreed the professionalization. Finally, very influential factor, influential factors, and factors in need of improvement were identified.

The results of the comparative study indicate that in most cases, there are significant differences between the studied areas in Iran with world-renowned universities. Change in the specialized courses due to the adoption of similar disciplines, attention to optional courses in order to specialize and create tendencies, and apprenticeships and internships are emphasized as the opportunities to turn knowledge into skills. Separation of specialist training, and classification of education according to the occupation and educational level were among suggested methods for improvement.

Indirect treatment is one of the methods of providing health care for customers in social security organization through the purchase of services from public and private centers. In this way, a portion of the health care is outsourced. The purpose of this study was to rank different regions of Iran in terms of the level of health services outsourcing and indirect care activities of the Social Security Organization.

In this descriptive sectional study, the required data were obtained by referring to the Social Security Organization website and downloading the Statistical Yearbook of 2016. Then, indirect treatment performance of that organization in all provinces, as well as Kashan area, was evaluated and compared with each other using six indicators for covered population in each area. Evaluation was carried out using one of the newest multiple attribute decision making methods, namely Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS).

The ratio of the number of contracted-out treatment centers to the population covered by insurance in each region was recognized as the most important indicator due to having the highest weight. There was provision of indirect healthcare services form in all studied regions; but the highest performance was observed in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, while the worst performance was observed in Bushehr Province.

Social Security Organization has used indirect care method (purchasing health services and contracting with public and private centers) as a strategy to increase the accessibility of medical resources to insured customers, and to replace development and construction of proprietary centers in all regions of Iran with outsourcing (with different amount of outsourcing in different regions).

Nowadays, social media plays an important role in meeting information needs of individuals, especially students. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of social media in meeting all kinds of information needs based on Norwood's information needs pyramid among the students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

In this survey study, the data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was carried out using random stratified sampling method. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed by experts in library and information science and psychologists; while reliability was calculated based on Cronbach’s alpha (0.89). SPSS software was used for data analysis.

The mean of using social media to meet information needs was lower than average among studied students. The means of using social media to meet the coping, helping, enlightening, empowering, and edifying information needs were estimated as 2.461, 2.323, 3.147, 2.448, and 2.463, respectively. Field of study significantly affected the use of social media, while the age had no significant effects.

The extent of using social media tools to meet all kinds of information needs of students was less than average in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences; and the enlightening information needs of students were met more than other types of information needs through social media tools. To import the use of social media in meeting information needs, health officials should explain the capabilities of social media to students.

Today, library services are heavily influenced by information technology, in a way that has changed the manner services are provided. The purpose of study was to assess the quality of digital library services in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, from the user's perspectives.

In this survey, the statistical population consisted of 331 postgraduate students and faculty members of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who were selected using random sampling method based on Morgan sampling table. The research tool was DigiQUAL questionnaire. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and t tests via SPSS software.

The mean service quality was less than the average level of 4 in all the dimensions of DigiQUAL. The highest and the lowest means of service quality from the faculty members’ perspectives were related to the coverage (4.56) and usefulness (3.07), respectively. From the graduate students’ perspectives, the highest and the lowest means of service quality were related to the accuracy and validity (4.56) and usefulness (2.96), respectively. There was also a significant relationship between the quality of digital library service and age, sex, and educational level.

According to the low average of the quality of digital library services, librarians and library officials need to pay more attention to improve the quality of services, and educating the users.