Showing 575 results for Type of Study: Research
Amirmahdi Taromiha, Saeedeh Saeedi Tehrani, Soodabeh Hoveidamanesh, Mahshad Noroozi,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Patient-centered care, which prioritizes patients' needs, values, and preferences, is a cornerstone of modern healthcare delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of medical students at Iran University of Medical Sciences toward providing patient-centered care. This cross-sectional study included medical students in all academic degrees at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) distributed online. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Of the 389 participants, 48.6% were male and 51.4% were female, with a mean age of 24.02±2.435 years. Moreover, 41.09% of the participants were in the clerkship stage, 40.9% were in the internship stage, and 14.7% had at least one parent who was a physician. The most preferred specialties were cardiology, surgery, and ophthalmology, respectively. The mean scores for the overall PPOS, sharing subscale, and caring subscale were 3.61± 0.50, 3.39± 0.64, and 3.83± 0.56, respectively, indicating a predominantly physician-centered attitude among students. There was a significant relationship between the mean scores of the three parts and gender (P-value<0.001), with female students demonstrating more patient-centered attitudes. Academic degree was significantly associated only with the mean score of the sharing subscale. The findings suggest that most medical students at Iran University of Medical Sciences exhibit a physician-centered attitude toward the physician-patient relationship. The results highlight the need for educational programs to promote patient-centered attitudes and enhance patient participation in diagnostic and treatment processes among medical students.
Fatemeh Badr, Mostafah Roshanzadeh, Somayeh Mohammadi, Mina Shirvani, Samaneh Dehghan Abnavi,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Considering the important role of health organizations and the behavior and performance of nurses in achieving organizational goals, the moral foundations of nurses can significantly influence their behaviors and decisions and shape the organizational culture and atmosphere. Therefore, the present descriptive-analytical study aimed to investigate the relationship between moral foundations and organizational culture among 200 nurses selected using the census method at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2023. Data were collected through a demographic information form along with questionnaires to measure moral foundations and organizational culture. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 via descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and analytical tests (t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation coefficient, and linear regression). Pearson’s correlation coefficient revealed a significant relationship between the mean scores of moral foundations and organizational culture among nurses (r=0.61, P<0.001). The coefficient of determination (R2=0.372) showed approximately 37% of the variance in organizational culture can be predicted by moral foundations. Among the dimensions of moral foundations, loyalty to the group, respect for authority, and purity significantly predicted organizational culture (P<0.001). The mean score of moral foundations among nurses was acceptable at 98.55±15.8, while the mean score of organizational culture was favorable at 105.74±25.7. Based on the findings from the present study it can be concluded that by creating a moral atmosphere and promoting moral values such as loyalty to the group, respect for authority, and purity in nurses, the organizational culture can be enhanced
Shahrbanoo Salehin,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency that has challenged many ethical issues. This study aimed to investigate the challenges and considerations of midwifery professional ethics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing qualitative content analysis, raw data were collected through an extensive literature review, utilizing purposive sampling until data saturation was achieved. Data trustworthiness was ensured based on Lincoln and Guba's criteria and data were analyzed using an inductive method. A total of 4 themes and 17 main categories were extracted. The themes and categories included: 1. Ethical challenges in deciding on midwifery care and place of delivery (ethical challenges of home birth, ethical challenges of hospital delivery, facing ethical challenges), 2. Clinical ethical principles (beneficence, equitable distribution and justice, solidarity, trust, duty to care), 3. Ethical principles in management (equal concern and respect, minimizing harm caused by the pandemic, inter-sectoral cooperation, evidence-based decision-making), 4. Support for midwives' rights (psychological support for midwives, gender considerations among midwives, midwifery training, workplace health, support policies). Midwives encounter various ethical challenges in pandemics. Thus, developing an ethical framework for decision-making in pandemics can help address these challenges.
Mostafa Roshanzadeh, Ali Taj, Somayeh Mohammadi,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
In the current health system conditions, the strategies adopted by nursing managers in their ethical decision-making can lead to different results for patients, nurses, and health systems. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain ethical decision-making strategies implemented by nursing managers. The present study was conducted using qualitative content analysis in 2022 at Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. A total of 18 nursing managers were selected through purposive sampling and were interviewed using in-depth unstructured individual interviews. Data were analyzed using the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. The results revealed one main category (human-centeredness) and three subcategories (customer-centeredness, valuing employees’ dignity, and the conflict between respecting the rights of patients and employees and adhering to organizational policies). Nursing managers attempted to make their ethical decisions based on the principle of humanism by using customer-centeredness strategies, valuing employees’ dignity, and prioritizing the rights of individuals and employees over organizational rules. The results of the present study showed nursing managers make decisions in line with respecting the rights of patients and employees. However, sometimes these decisions conflict with the interests of organizations. In this regard, the existing obstacles that create the conditions for such conflicts should be identified. Increasing organizational commitment in managers can also be effective in decisions that benefit different groups of customers, personnel, and health organizations.
Amirhossein Mardani, Maryam Nakhoda, Ehsan Shamsi Gooshki,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Since research misconduct can be considered as an adaptive reaction against the limitations, pressures, and demands arising from inappropriate functions of the research system, to manage it, the activities of the research system should be investigated and traced during the path of transferring research policies (macro level) to research development programs in institutions (meso level) and research implementation by researchers (micro level). By introducing the macro-meso-micro analytical framework, this study clarified the tasks, strategies, and activities formed at three levels of the research system of medical sciences in Iran; from macro policies of research (macro) to operational plans for the development of research in universities and research centers (meso) and researchers as research conductors (micro). For this purpose, three analytical levels of the research system were explained and defined according to the assumptions of this framework. By performing a qualitative content analysis of the relevant texts, those activities that could be useful at different levels to support the research integrity were identified and presented as different strategies. The results showed that the research system, based on the existing analytical framework, is not seen as a mere macro-system without regard to the interaction of its parts, but rather a system in which there is cross-sectional influence and interaction among the components. This approach can improve the focus, clarity, and capability to study research misconduct, and by using micro, meso, and macro levels, it can trace challenges in the interactive path of various activities and functions of the research system and their intertwining.
Saeed Nazari Tavakkoli, Saeed Ghadirzadeh Toosi,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Treating patients whose lives are in danger or threatened by irreparable harm, is an obligatory act. However, sometimes, due to old age, the severity of the disease, or the lack of definitive treatment, the patient faces a situation where, according to the diagnosis of the medical staff, starting or continuing the treatment has no effect on patient recovery, or the effect is so insignificant that is ignored in medical practice. This study was conducted using a descriptive and analytical method based on library resources to compare “futile treatment” in medical ethics with “Israf” (extravagance) in Islamic jurisprudence so as to indicate the level of conceptual compatibility between these two concepts. Moreover, considering the illegitimacy of extravagance in jurisprudential teachings, it was attempted to explore whether it is illegitimate, according to Islamic rules, to perform futile treatment. To do so, first, futile treatment and its characteristics in medical texts were defined. Second, the ethical considerations of performing such treatment were explained based on the teachings of medical ethics. Third, extravagance was analyzed in terms of concept, topic, and sentence by referring to valid lexical, jurisprudential, narrative, and interpretative resources. Finally, based on a comparative study, the level of compatibility of futile treatment with extravagance was investigated. The findings of this study showed futile treatment is an example of extravagance as it causes the waste of personal or public property, lacks rational purpose, and does not lead to patient recovery or promotion of health status. Therefore, futile treatment is not considered an obligatory act but even an illegitimate one as it is a clear example of extravagance. In addition to punishment in the afterlife, it entails civil liability as it results in the loss of others’ property.
Rahele Samouei, D Farzane Mohammadi-Sefiddashti, Narges Meshkineh, Mostafa Amini-Rarani ,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Compliance with ethical principles in research by researchers plays a fundamental role in providing evidence-based and practical findings, subsequently solving society's problems and advancing knowledge. Despite numerous educational workshops and awareness-raising efforts, some unethical research practices are still observed. Identifying relevant factors is essential for practical and preventive planning. In this regard, the present study aimed to identify psychosocial determinants related to the ethical performance of researchers in conducting and publishing research works. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach based on conventional content analysis. A total of 29 faculty members and researchers from the medical sciences universities in Iran in various fields and specialties were selected purposively and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. Qualitative content analysis was used to categorize data and Lincoln and Guba’s criteria were employed to evaluate data. Data analysis led to the identification of 136 codes, 20 subcategories, and 4 main categories. The factors related to the ethical performance of researchers in conducting and publishing research works derived from interviews with researchers included "Laws", "Social Learning", "Knowledge and Literacy", and "Psychological Characteristics". According to the findings of this study, the ethical performance of researchers in the field of research is the result of the interaction of social, individual, personality, and legislative factors. Some factors, like personality traits, are long-lasting, resistant, and personal, while social factors are widespread, common, and more general. Research policymakers and managers can improve the ethical performance of researchers and place ethics at the center of attention in research by implementing educational methods, culture building, and behavior change
Mitra Bahrami, Mohadeseh Shaygan Jamal, Maryam Afshari, Omid Najm Roshan,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Research ethics is a branch of professional ethics that deals with the ethical principles guiding the research process from the beginning to the end. Ignoring ethical issues in research sometimes occurs unintentionally and simply due to a lack of awareness regarding professional research ethics. Therefore, this study aimed to identify facilitators and inhibitors of adherence to ethics in research conducted by postgraduate students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. This qualitative study was conducted using an inductive content analysis approach. The target population included postgraduate students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 29 students who were selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using the method proposed by Diekelmann et al. For data validation, Strauss and Corbin’s method was utilized. Factors influencing adherence to research ethics included individual and personality traits (accuracy and ethical conduct of students and professors and having sufficient information about research ethics) and environmental factors (information dissemination and familiarity with research methods, the professors’ interactions with students, confidentiality of information, strictness of professors, having a clear framework from the university, respecting students’ rights, and establishing deterrent regulations). Strengthening facilitators and mitigating inhibitors of adherence to research ethics requires joint efforts from students, professors, and the university. Students need to develop accuracy and awareness, and professors should serve as ethical role models. University officials are required to create and propose clear frameworks for adhering to ethics, to be followed by all individuals involved in research.
Elham Malekzadeh, Zahra Alizadeh Birjandi,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
This study examined the history of the establishment and evolution of Tehran’s insane asylum during the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. The significance of this study in medical history lies in its exploration of the founding of one of Iran’s earliest medical institutions and the factors that influenced its subsequent transformations. Given its focus on the development of insane asylum (Dar al-Majanin) and the public’s appeals for its improvement, this study offers valuable insights into the social history of the period. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on unpublished archival documents, this study presented a narrative of the history of madness that shed light on the untold stories of the mentally ill (Majanin) and prevailing societal beliefs about them. These beliefs profoundly influenced the treatment of patients within these institutions. The findings revealed that while the care provided to the mentally ill improved during this period, ongoing challenges persisted due to limited resources and a growing patient population. The prevailing attitude of officials toward the mentally ill was primarily one of containment, aimed at protecting the public from perceived threats.
Simin Kokabi Asl, Sareh Zekavat, Somayeh Rostamkhan, Abolfazl Dehbanizadeh, Mahsa Ghaemizadeh, Milad Amiri,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
The intensive care unit (ICU) is a challenging and stressful environment where nurses encounter difficult ethical decisions daily. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the correlation between moral reasoning and clinical belongingness among Iranian ICU nurses. This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 126 nurses working in the adult ICUs of hospitals in Yasuj, Iran in 2023 using census sampling. Questionnaires measuring clinical belongingness and moral reasoning were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, ANOVA, regression, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient via SPSS-26 software. The findings revealed that the mean scores for clinical belongingness and moral reasoning among the nurses were 109.68 ± 13.75 and 36.07± 5.50, respectively, indicating good clinical belongingness and moderate moral reasoning. Moreover, a statistically significant relationship was identified between the place of service and clinical belongingness (p = 0.02), while no significant relationship was found between clinical belongingness and moral reasoning (p>0.05). Although no significant relationship was established between clinical belongingness and moral reasoning, certain demographic characteristics showed a significant predictive relationship with nurses' clinical belongingness. Accordingly, it is recommended that nursing officials and managers utilize these findings to improve moral reasoning and the sense of belonging to the clinical environment among nurses.
Hosein Fasihi, Dr. Syyed Ahmad Fazeli,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
In the realm of philosophy, numerous thinkers have offered profound, and at times amazing, insights into the nature of existence. Among them, Spinoza stands out with his unique perspective, establishing a deep connection between ethics, religion, and the divine nature. Spinoza posits that religious texts, beyond their religious teachings, serve a motivational role in inspiring moral behavior. He locates the foundation of virtue within human nature and essence, arguing that the moral quality of actions is not inherent but is derived from God as the ultimate source of good and evil. Ultimately, adhering to the principle of universal necessity, Spinoza extends this concept to ethics, viewing it as an expression of divine nature. This perspective implies that morality and all human actions unfold within the framework of natural and divine necessity. An examination of Spinoza's views reveals a profound unity between humanity and the divine, characterized by a harmonious and interactive relationship between religion and ethics. Within Spinoza's philosophical system, these two categories are aligned, guiding individuals toward happiness and virtue. This innovative approach not only enriches our understanding of Spinoza's thought but also, by bridging religion, reason, and health, opens avenues for reconsidering medical ethics and spirituality in the contemporary world. This study, through a critical analysis of Spinoza's views, lays the groundwork for future investigations into moral philosophy, religion, and medical ethics, fostering a constructive dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Sooreh Khaki, Masoud Fallahi -Khoshknab, Farahnaz Mohammadi-Shahboulaghi, Gülbeyaz Can, Mohammad Ali Hosseini,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Conveying bad news to patients and their families is a process that requires team collaboration. Different countries have taken into consideration providing suitable solutions. This study aimed to develop an practical guideline, according to the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers in intensive care units across three phases. In the first phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 participants selected through purposive sampling, and the initial draft of the practical guideline was created. In the second phase, the initial draft was discussed and reviewed by experts in two focus group meetings, and a secondary draft was developed. In the third phase, the practical guideline compiled by the Delphi method was validated by 43 experts in policymaking and decision-making. Finally, an practical guideline to deliver bad news to patients and their families was developed with 8 main steps and 43 sub-steps. The main steps included before delivering bad news (assessment, planning and preparation, coordination), during delivering bad news (announcing bad news, emotional support, summary and documentation), and after delivering bad news (referral, follow-up). This practical guideline is intended to facilitate the process of delivering bad news in intensive care units to achieve the desired outcomes and reduce the resulting consequences and harms. Accordingly, healthcare providers are recommended to consider the importance of patient and family preferences, adhering to scientific and standard methods for delivering bad news, and upholding the principles of professional ethics.
Reza Abdollahi, Aynaz Bagherzadi, Mrs Mir Hossein Ahnmadi, Mr Yousef Mohammadpour,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Organizational support is a key factor that may influence and moderate compassion fatigue among nurses. Therefore, this descriptive-analytical study aimed to explore the relationship between organizational support and compassion fatigue in emergency department nurses. The research population consisted of all nurses in the emergency departments of educational hospitals in Urmia, Iran in 2024. A total of 150 nurses were randomly selected based on the inclusion criteria for the study. Data were collected through three questionnaires including a demographic information form, Eisenberger’s Organizational Support Scale, and Figley’s Compassion Fatigue Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 15. The results indicated a significant negative relationship between organizational support and compassion fatigue (r=0.45 and p< 0.05). The mean score for organizational support among emergency department nurses was 21.13± 0.54. Moreover, the mean scores for compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress were 27.73 ± 8.54, 38.73 ± 1.81, and 28.45 ± 4.82, respectively. The overall mean score for the nurses' job quality was 31.93 ± 4.32. Given the results of the present study and the role of organizational support in reducing compassion fatigue among nurses, it is crucial for nursing managers and policymakers to take certain measures such as improving working conditions and addressing the needs of nurses to enhance organizational support, consequently helping to reduce and mitigate compassion fatigue among nurses.
Hamidreza Namazi, Navid Ravan,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Medical considerations about aging are as old as medicine itself. However, due to the controversy about whether aging should be classified as a disease or merely a stage of life, geriatric medicine was separated from medicine with a considerable lag. The differentiation of geriatrics from other medical specialties is not rooted in subjecting a specific organ of the body or specific pathophysiological processes but based on a particular stage of life. On the other hand, different stages of life, such as old age, are also subjects for medicalization. Therefore, geriatric medicine may sometimes be threatened by geriatric medicalization and its associated harms. In addition, the relativity and ambiguity in defining the concept of aging and its dependence on social contexts can lead to confusion in understanding the subject matter of geriatric medicine. Mitigating these harms requires philosophical and ethical reflection on health and disease concepts as well as on the essence of aging. Considering that Iran is expected to face an aging crisis in the coming decades, this philosophical reflection at different levels among researchers in the philosophy of medicine and medical ethics, researchers and practitioners in geriatrics, as well as among civil society, can lead to separating geriatric medicine from geriatric medicalization, hence increasing the integrity and efficiency of geriatric medicine, and promoting the health status of the elderly.
Alireza Heidari, Seyed Hamed Atashi, Farideh Kouchak, Zahra Khatirnamani,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Addressing patients’ non-medical needs reflects the desires of patients and their families to engage more actively in decision-making and treatment processes. The present study aimed to assess the level of responsiveness to the non-medical needs of hospitalized patients. This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach. A total of 392 patients hospitalized in Shahid Sayad Shirazi and 5 Azar educational-therapeutic hospitals, affiliated with Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan, were included in the study. Participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using the validated and reliable responsiveness questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The mean (±SD) age of participants was (45.17 ±16.92) years, with 55.1% being male. The mean (±SD) overall score for the importance of responsiveness was (33.37 ±4.45), which was above the average. The majority of patients (over 65%) rated all dimensions of responsiveness as very important or extremely important. The most important dimension from the patients' perspective was the quality of the surrounding environment (95.9%), while the least important was the confidentiality of personal information (34.7%). The mean (±SD) overall score for responsiveness performance was 54.54 (0.70 ± 8), which was above the average. The overall score of the responsiveness performance and importance in Sayad Shirazi and 5 Azar educational hospitals was above average. Dimensions deemed important by patients but with weaker performance should be prioritized, and educational and therapeutic centers should pay more attention to patients’ non-clinical expectations.
Leila Masoudiyekta, Ehsan Hassanpour Pazevar , Alireza Parsapour, Ehsan Shamsi Gooshki, Mohammd Jalili, Amirahmad Shojaei,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Moral distress constitutes a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, arising when individuals find themselves unable to act in accordance with their personal and professional values due to both internal and external pressures. Healthcare professionals may face scenarios that prompt them to question the ethical acceptability of their decisions and treatment practices, often feeling powerless in the face of perceived unethical changes. This study sought to explore the experiences of moral distress encountered by emergency medicine physicians and nurses in the emergency department. This study was conducted using qualitative content analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 healthcare providers selected via purposive sampling. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA 2018 software. The results indicated that the experiences of moral distress among emergency medicine physicians and nurses in the emergency department can be classified into four primary categories including those related to: 1. patient rights, 2. medical staff and colleagues, 3. management, and 4. professionals. Notably, factors such as overcrowding, inadequate staffing, discrepancies between salaries and workloads, and poor management of human and physical resources emerge as significant contributors to moral distress in the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital. To improve patient care quality, it is essential to implement strategies that enhance triage processes, prioritize human resources, align resources with patient needs, monitor patient attendance, and develop a comprehensive protocol for staff.
Hamid Kavyani Pooya,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Education in Iran, as in the rest of the world, has a long history, and with the foundation of inclusive national governments, due to the interaction of civilizations and adaptation of scientific achievements, education and educational institutions and centers have undergone major changes and transformations. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine different methods of teaching medical sciences and transferring medical achievements to scholars and those interested in this profession in the history of Iran until the end of the Safavid era through a library-based method. Data were collected from original medical resources, travelogues, and reliable historical documents and evidence in Arabic, Persian, and English. Data were then described and analyzed using domestic databanks. The findings indicated that throughout the history of Iran, particularly in the Islamic civilization, medical education and sciences have been transferred both theoretically and practically. In modern terms, this involved lectures (theory) and clinical training (practice). Nevertheless, there have been differing opinions regarding the importance and priority of each method, and the period under study witnessed significant evolution and changes in improving the ways medical concepts have been conveyed to scholars.
Reza Taghi Zade Naieni,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
The plague of 1896 AD/1314 AH was one of the most devastating epidemics in history that occurred in Bombay, India. This disease had a profound impact on human societies, particularly Islamic societies, and on the pilgrimage of Muslims between 1896 and 1899. This historical review study analyzed the consequences of the plague outbreak in Bombay, India, in 1896 AD/1314 AH on the pilgrimage process of Muslims in the mentioned year and the following years. This study also examined the type of exposure of Muslims to this disease and the restrictions imposed by the governments of the time. Data were collected from historical resources such as reports in Hajj travelogues, historical documents, Arabic press news, recent research by Western researchers, and scientific articles. The findings indicated that the ruling governments attempted to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce casualties by establishing and developing quarantine facilities, dispatching medical teams, shortening the permitted duration of pilgrims’ stay in Saudi Arabia, and persuading Muslims to forgo the Hajj pilgrimage. The success of these preventive measures hinged on two main factors: first, the necessary executive power to enforce restrictions, and second, the mitigation of economic insecurity for communities simultaneously affected by illness and pilgrimage. Furthermore, the acceptance of these limitations was significantly influenced by Muslim perceptions of the restrictions and their cultural and religious backgrounds.
Rasool Esmalipour, Neda Mehrdad, Pooneh Salari,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Ethical challenges related to pharmaceutical laws and regulations are among the most significant challenges for pharmacists in fulfilling their professional duties. Therefore, identifying these challenges and conducting an ethical audit is a novel and effective approach for amending related laws and regulations. The ethical challenges faced by pharmacists in providing pharmacy services were explored through conducting a qualitative content analysis study entitled "Exploring the Ethical Challenges in Providing Pharmacy Services". The identified challenges were classified into various categories, one of which was challenges related to pharmaceutical laws and regulations. The challenges were extracted from a book entitled "Laws and Regulations of Iran’s Pharmaceutical Affairs", analyzed, and divided into three categories, including outdated laws and regulations, lack of proper implementation, and insufficient control and supervision over implementation. These rules and regulations were reviewed and analyzed in comparison with the Code of Ethics for the National Pharmaceutical System and an ethical audit was conducted. Raising awareness among officials and policymakers in the health sector, especially regarding pharmaceutical affairs, and taking necessary measures to improve laws and regulations can ultimately enhance the quality of medical and pharmaceutical services, ensuring that patients receive high-quality pharmaceutical and medical care.
Farshid Mohammadmousaei, Zeinab Raiesifar, Seyed Ali Mousavi, Nastaran Khorsandi Bahar, Fatemeh Esmaelzadeh,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Maintaining patient privacy is a fundamental right of patients and an ethical duty of healthcare professionals. The present descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 to compare the perspectives of patients and staff in obstetrics and gynecology operating rooms in Mashhad, Iran, on the extent to which patient privacy was preserved. Patients were selected using random sampling in the operating rooms of hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through a demographic information form and a standardized questionnaire to assess hospitalized patients’ privacy. Data were analyzed via SPSS-22, utilizing descriptive and inferential statistics, with a significance level of P<0.05. The mean ages of patients and staff participating in this study were 39.07±12.56 and 31.65±8.42 years, respectively. The mean score of preserving privacy from the patients' perspective was 38.92±22.41, whereas from the staff's perspective, it was 64.26±8.02, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0001). The lowest scores in both groups for personal privacy were 4.97±8.77 for patients and 13.37±2.66 for staff. Results indicated that the staff perceived the level of preserving patient privacy to be above average, while patients considered it below average. Therefore, given the patients’ specific conditions, high stress levels, and physical and mental limitations to support themselves, it is essential to implement targeted training and take necessary measures to encourage the staff to pay more attention to patient privacy and raise patient awareness in this regard.
