Journal of Health Management and Informatics
Volume:2 Issue: 4, Oct 2015

Although many studies have been conducted in the telepathology field in recent years, a systematic review that examines studies in a comparative manner has not yet been undertaken. This paper aims to review the published papers on telepathology projects and compare them in several aspects such as telepathology method,telecommunication method, clinical outcome, etc. PubMed database was used to find the studies published in the past ten years (2004–2014). Data were extracted from these studies based on the following items: country, national (in country) or international (between countries), frozen section or slide, body part, type of camera used, telecommunication method, telepathology method, clinical outcome, cost evaluation, satisfaction evaluation and the description of consultation providers and receivers. Results showed that most of the studies were performed in developed countries on a national level, on slide and on a specific body part. In most studies, a Nikon camera was used to take images. Online methods were the most used telecommunication method in the studies, while store and forward was the most used telepathology method. Clinical outcome of many studies showed that telepathology is a reliable and accurate method for consultation. More than half of the studies considered the cost, and most of them showed that a telepathology system is cost effective. Few studies evaluated satisfaction of the participants. In most studies, the telepathology project was undertaken between pathologists. Although there is enough evidence to suggest that telepathology is an effective way of consultation between pathologists, there are still some areas that should be addressed and for which there is a lack of convincing evidence. For example, pathologist satisfaction, cost evaluation, legal issues and ethical issues still need to be addressed.

Applying information technology in healthcare system is one of the most important criteria of the World Health Organization for evaluating the quality of healthcare systems of different countries. Moreover, applying this technology in different parts of health care system can create great potentials for improving the quality of healthcare services. In this regard, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is one of the most practical technologies in identifying and collecting data. The present study aimed to compare the readiness of Shiraz University of medical sciences hospitals for implementation of RFID system in 2014. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014. The research population consisted of 110 senior and middle managers. Due to the limited research population, census method was used. The research tool was a questionnaire prepared by the researcher to investigate the hospitals’ readiness for implementation of RFID technology. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were approved by the experts. Cronbach’s alpha test was run to determine the reliability of the questionnaire (data were considered significant at p <0.05). Also, the data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentage) and inferential statistics (one-way ANOVA). The study showed that the readiness level of the hospitals was moderate. Comparing the mean of the total readiness level in the hospitals under the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between hospital M and other hospitals (P=0.003). However, the total readiness of hospital I was higher than others. Among 13 hospitals under the study, the hospitals I and A were moderately ready and others were not ready for implementation of RFID technology. Thus, considering various applications and advantages of RFID technology, it is suggested that the hospitals should prepare the budget, improve the technical and communicative infrastructures, and also plan to implement this technology.

Organizational citizenship behavior has been linked to overall organizational effectiveness, thus these types of employee behaviors have important consequences in the workplace. One of the important consequences of these types of behaviors is knowledge sharing. Thus, the current study examined the role of organizational citizenship behavior in promoting knowledge sharing. A descriptive correlation design was employed in this study. We collected the data from Kharazmi University employees in city of Tehran in 2014. The statistical population consisted of 484 Kharazmi University employees from which 210 persons were selected randomly (using simple random sampling) by the Krejcie and Morgan (1978) sample size determination table. Data werecollected through organizational citizenship behavior questionnaire and knowledge sharing questionnaire. To examine the reliability of the questionnaires, Cronbach alpha coefficient was used. These coefficients were 0.80 for attitude toward knowledge sharing and 0.77 for intention to share knowledge. Also, for organizational citizenship behavior it ranged from 0.71 (courtesy) to 0.82 (altruism). To determine the validity, content validity method was applied. All descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression were performed using SPSS 19. The results of t-test indicated that the means of organizational citizenship behavior (mean=2.50) and all its dimensions (altruism: 2.60, conscientiousness: 2.52, sportsmanship: 2.41, courtesy: 2.49, civic virtue: 2.45) among employees were at the moderate level. The results showed that the correlation between organizational citizenship behavior and knowledge sharing was significant (r=0.50, P<0.001). Other results showed that the correlations between knowledge sharing and organizational citizenship behavior dimensions - Altruism (r=0.35), Conscientiousness (r=0.19), Sportsmanship (r=0.46), Courtesy (r=0.39), Civic virtue (r=0.18) - were significant (p<0.001). Finally, results of multiple regression analysis showed that organizational citizenship behavior dimensions– Sportsmanship (β= 0.53) - could predict knowledge sharing. According to the findings, it can be concluded that with improvement in each of the research variables, other variables will improve. For example, as theresult of improvement in organizational citizenship behavior, knowledge sharing will increase and the organization could use its competitive advantage.

Health information systems have the potential of improving the quality of healthcare and treatment procedures and supporting the physicians in their clinical diagnoses. Nowadays, evaluating the usability is widely accepted as a crucial factor in the acceptance and success of the interactive healthcare systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the usability of Ulite Software based on the ISO 9241 model. This analytical-empirical study was performed in 2014. The target population consisted of 50 Utile Software users. The data were collected througha valid and reliable questionnaire containing questions from 10 valid and reliable questionnaires on the related field. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated and confirmed by the scholars and experts in Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and the reliability was estimated through statistical procedures using Chronbach’s alpha Test (α=0.958). Data were analyzed in SPSS 20 using descriptive statistics and Smart-PLS version 3, using Structural Equation Method and Partial Least Square Approach.The obtained results of the simultaneous analysis of all constructs regarding ISO 9241 model indicated a positive effect of “effectiveness” (P-value= 0.05) and “satisfaction” (P-value= 0.00) on the usability of web-based PACS, while the effect of “efficiency” (P-value= 0.68) was not confirmed. Usability evaluation of Ulite software in the demo version was performed based on the ISO 9241 model. Based on the results, it seems that this software has the necessary effectiveness and user satisfaction has been somewhat successful, but since the evaluation in the demo version aimed to purchasethe system and eliminate initial problems,we should focus on the deficiencies that decrease the efficiency of the system.

Cost is becoming a growing concern for the managers of health and treatment institutes both in private and public sectors. Based on the opinions of pathology and radiology specialists and experts, one private and one public center for radiology and laboratory were selected to study in Kerman City. This is a cross-sectional and applied study. The two centers were similar in frequency of their services, different tests they were conducting, and their number of personnel. Afterwards, the costs of services in both fields were determined using the activity-based costing method. This study was carried out from March 21 to September 22, 2014. The costs of services in both private and public sectors were compared to the tariffs of the Ministry of Health in 2014. Laboratory results indicated that the costs in all the selected tests were higher than the tariffs and the largest difference (app. 84,930 Rls) was observed in the TSH test while the smallest difference was observed in the ferritin test (11,940 Rls). However in the private sector, vitamin D and FBS tests were not profitable with differences of about 5500 and 6500 Rls, respectively. In other tests, the costs in the private sector were lower than the tariffs for the private sector. In the private sector radiology center, only the MRI services were not profitable but the other services were. The cost of MRI services in the private sector studied in this research was 190,000 Rls higher than the private sector tariffs.