نشریه مدیریت سلامت
پیاپی 95 (بهار 1403)

Information disorders arise as a consequence of the evolution of networked societies. This study aims to identify the consequences of spreading health information disorders and to explore strategies for addressing these issues.

This qualitative research employed a conventional content analysis approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 26 participants, including health specialists, librarian and medical information specialists, patients and media representatives, utilizing purposive sampling. Accuracy and robustness of the data were ensured through triangulation methods, including the use of multiple sources and methods in data extraction, interviews with diverse groups, reminders and domain notes to confirm the concepts.

The consequences, detection methods, and solutions for addressing information disorders can be categorized in four main categories including sender, message (content), channel and receiver. The subcategories of outcomes included the general public, specialists, information-related issues, content-related issues, media, dissemination issues, responses to information, individual issues, and social issues. The subcategories of detection methods included the general public, specialists, information and content issues, validation and evaluation, technical issues, and technology use. The subclasses of solutions consisted of literacy and knowledge, verification and evaluation, psychological aspects, information and content issues, media, publication issues, interprofessional cooperation, and technology considerations.

The results of this research enhance the understanding of the consequences of health information disorders and provide practical solutions for diagnosing and addressing these issues thereby improving health decision-making process.

The healthcare industry has had a significant impact on improving the quality of life and increasing life expectancy. However, there is a clear discrepancy between the potential capacity of these systems and their actual performance. This gap between potential and reality is a challenge that requires attention and effective actions to optimally utilize all the capacities available in the healthcare system. Therefore, providing a holistic perspective through a comprehensive systematic model can assist managers of healthcare organizations in this regard. The aim of this research is to design and present a comprehensive satellite model based on the criteria for enhancing the performance of healthcare centers.

This research is fundamentally, qualitative in nature and has an inductive approach. The data for this research was obtained based on a literature review and conducting qualitative interviews with 19 faculty members of universities, managers, and healthcare experts. Finally, the data was analyzed using the thematic analysis technique.

This research led to the design of a satellite model of criteria for enhancing the performance of healthcare centers. This model has five main categories and 21 subcategories, with the five main categories being: human resources, non-human resources, impression, internal strategic advantage, and structure.

Based on the examination of the important criteria for enhancing performance in healthcare centers, healthcare providers, while paying attention to the criteria that affect performance, should design their own specific model and, in the field of implementation, improve attention to a systematic approach and different organizational areas and prevent the optimization of a single part in their management area.

The integration of digital technologies in health marketing has changed the way hospitals communicate with patients. This study aimed to design a branding model for Iranian hospitals in the digital era.

This qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory method in 2023. Targeted and theoretical sampling was applied to select the participants. The saturation limit in this study was 15 people. Data was collected using in-depth qualitative interviews. Based on Strauss and Corbin's method, all qualitative interviews were implemented and then analyzed using constant comparative analysis in three stages of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Using the axial coding paradigms of antecedents, interventions, and consequences were classified, and finally, the central category was selected and the final model was presented. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti  version 9.

Finally, 413 primary codes were extracted from the interviews and categorized into 13 main sub-categories and three core categories. The conditions paradigms were including the digital platforms, continuous presence, support, and patient's culture. The categories of interventions included health communication, therapeutic functions, continuous training, responding to non-therapeutic needs, health literacy and promotion of care, content marketing, personal branding, and finally, the consequences included the internationalization, the people-centeredness hospitals, responsiveness, creating value for stakeholders, trust, loyalty, and patronage.

The development of digital branding in hospitals inside the country, along with the development of medical tourism, leads to the acceptance of international patients, the commitment and loyalty of patients to the country's hospitals, and increases the value for the beneficiaries and the hospital system.

Hospital accreditation globally is conducted through two different approaches: employing specific standards for various types of hospitals, or applying the same standards across all hospital types, as seen in Iran and many other countries. This study explored the benefits and challenges of using the same standards for all types of hospitals from the perspective of accreditation experts.

This qualitative descriptive study was conducted with the participation of 30 employees of the target hospitals, national accreditation assessors, and experts from the Ministry of Health's monitoring and accreditation office. The interviews were semi-structured and conducted during individual sessions. The data was analyzed using content analysis using MaxQDA software.

The benefits of the same standards were emereged in three themes ("competitive", "functional”, and "financial"), and the challenges were also emereged in three themes ("challenges related to the nature of the hospital", "challenges related to the accreditation process", and "financial challenges"). “The motivation to compete with other hospitals” and “not paying enough attention to the specific conditions of each hospital” were the most frequent mentioned benefits and challenges, respectively. The “financial” theme was emerged as both benefits and challenges, albeit with different sub-themes.

To optimize accreditation as much as possible, in addition to the existing standards, accreditation organizations should move towards developing and adding specific standards according to the type of hospitals in order to reduce the challenges of accreditation in addition to maintaining the existing benefits.

One area that can be affected by the publication of media content is the mental health of population. The current research aimed to identify the role of media literacy in improving the mental health of Iranian society.

This applied research was done in 2024 using a mixed method approach. The statistical population in the qualitative section included communication professors specializing in media literacy and psychology, while in the quantitative section included all citizens over 18 years old living in Tehran. In the qualitative part, the interviews and purposive sampling method were used to collect data, and thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data obtained from the interviews. In the quantitative part, a researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data, emplying a multi-stage random cluster sampling method to collect data. Finally, 384 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Teaching the methods for distinguishing true from fake news, injuries resulting from negative news, teaching how to face negative news, teaching media literacy from pre-school to high school, and the development of multimedia skills have the highest frequency among the particiants. According to the quantitative results, the value of Pearson's statistic for “understanding the content of media messages”, “the hidden goals of media messages”, “the conscious selection of media messages”, “a critical look at media messages”, and “the analysis of media messages” were equal to 0.541, 0.577, 0.311, 0.533, and 0.420, respectively (P<0.0001). This indicates a significant relationship between the five dimensions of media messages and the improvement of mental health in Iranian society.

The results show that as  media literacy increases, the mental health of society also improves, and vice versa. Therefore, media literacy training should be prioritized in the field of mental health for society. Prioritizing this training not only enhances people's ability to recognize fake news and false content, but can also improve their mental health.

Policymakers in each country must decide on the financing and payment system for healthcare. In addition to increasing efficiency and effectiveness, this system should reduce individuals’ out-of-pocket payments. One such system that has shown positive results globally is Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). This study aims to identify the requirements for the implementation of DRG in Iran.

This research is a qualitative study employing conventional content analysis, conducted during 2021-2022. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participnats included senior managers with at least five years of experience working in insurance organizations, the budget unit, or medical economics of the Ministry of Health or hospitals, as well as faculty members with experience in research related to payment methods. The participnats were selected based on specific criteria. After conducting 14 interviews, data saturation was achieved. The data were then analyzed using MAXQDA10 software.

The most important requirements for the implementation of DRG in Iran included regulatory/executive requirements, informing and accompanying stakeholders, technical and informational infrastructures, and 10 related sub-themes.

For the successful implementation of the DRG system in Iran, policymakers and health system managers can leverage the experiences of other countries, train healthcare providers, calculate accurate costs, improve the accounting system, provide necessary software, develop diagnostic groups, set proportionate tariffs, and strengthen information systems. These steps will help remove implementation obstacles, attract stakeholder cooperation, and prepare the necessary technical and informational infrastructures.

Management competencies are essential principles for nursing supervisors in clinical departments to provide quality service to patients and create a healthy work environment for staff. This study aims to evaluate the managerial competencies of head nurses in educational hospitals in Yazd in 2023.

This cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted in the educational hospitals affiliated with Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, in 2023. We employed a random sampling method to select two groups: 174 nurses and a census of 49 hospital managers and head nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to assess the managerial competencies of head nurses, which had confirmed in a study by Markazimoghadam. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16, utilizing descriptive and analytical statistical tests, including Mann-Whitney test and Cohen's d effect size.

The mean competency score of head nurses, as perceived by both managers and nurses, was 65.08, indicating a good level of competency. Both groups identified “customer commitment” as the area with the highest competency score (75.33 ± 27.41), while “problem-solving” received the lowest score. Among the competency components, "atmosphere and organizational culture management" (d=0.762) and "trust and credibility" (d=0.750) were found to have the most significant impact on head nurses' competencies.

Problem-solving skills emerged as the weakest area, highlighting the need for targeted empowerment through training and effective experiences. Additionally, enhancing skills in organizational culture management, effective communication, and building trust and credibility will significantly strengthen the managerial competencies of head nurses.