Methods Used for Evaluation of Health Information Systems in Iran

With the vast implementation of health information systems، continuous evaluation of these systems، seems to have a key role in the quality improvement of health care provided to patients. The aim of the study was to assess the studies conducted to evaluate health information systems in Iran.

This was a review in which all papers relevant to the research objective were retrieved from SID،Magiran and Iran medex databases، from April 2001 to September 2012. There were 36 out of 727 articles retrieved and then selected as relevant for review by the authors.

Questionnaires were used to evaluate the systems in 50 percent of the studies. Questionnaires were distributed among study population in 42 percent of the studies. In 50 percent of the studies the information was collected by means of interviews، observations and the review of patients’ documents and records. With the exception of one study، all studies used quantitative methods and were summative.

Evaluation tools and methods are required for developing and optimizing information systems. Although various evaluation studies have been conducted in Iran، only a limited number of evaluation tools and methods are used.