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Showing 6 results for Health Services
Causes of informal payments in health sector: a qualitative study of viewpoints of physicians, policy makers and patients
Mohammadreza Amiresmaili, Mahmood Nekoeimoghadam, Atefeh Esfandiari, Fatemeh Ramezani, Hedayat Salari,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (8-2013)
Abstract
In recent years, the financial relationship between the physician and the patient and some issues such as informal payments for health care have arisen as an unethical but common problem in many countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Such issues are a threat to the professional reputation of physicians, and can have their own causes in different parts of the world. This study attempts to assess the causes of informal payments and the manners in which they are done in the hospitals of the Kerman Province in Iran in 2012. This study was carried out using qualitative research methods, and semi-structured interviews. Structured interviews were conducted on a purposeful sample of 45 participants including patients, providers and policy makers in the Kerman province in Iran in 2012. This study was authorized by the ethics committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, and the consent form was completed by all participants. In this study the participants were asked questions regarding reasons for informal payments, and data were analyzed using content analysis. There are several reasons for making informal payments, which include cultural, legal and quality factors. A number of reasons for asking informal payments by providers were discovered, including those related to tariffs, structural factors and ethical factors as well as to demonstrate the skill and competence of service providers. Most of the reasons discovered for informal payments in Iran are similar to other countries in the world. They showed that inadequate funding of the health systems and inadequate formal payments to providers are the most important supply-side factors leading to informal payments. Given that qualitative studies usually cover potential reasons only, further studies are needed to investigate the matter more extensively.
Assessment of Patient Satisfaction from Quality of Care Services in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Ghorveh City in 2015
Afrooz Hosein, Farideh Elahimanesh, Nammam Ali Azadi,
Volume 11, Issue 0 (3-2018)
Abstract
Patients’ satisfaction of treatment centers is one of the most important indicators for the quality of care and treatment services. Taking care of patients’ satisfaction has essential role in managing programs of health services. The aim of study was to evaluate patients' satisfaction with the quality of services provided in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qorveh in 2015. The research method was cross-sectional and descriptive-analytic. The statistical population of the study consisted of 384 patients selected in one stage cluster sampling from different parts of hospital. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by means of questionnaire that its validity and reliability was confirmed. Information was analyzed by statistical software SPSS 20 and t-test. The results showed that most of satisfaction was related to the emergency department and the lowest levels of satisfaction was related to ICU. Overall satisfaction from health services of Shahid Beheshti hospital was 72%. In this study, the satisfaction and habitat of patient had meaningful relationship, but other factors had not significant relationship with patient statisfaction. In recent years, patient satisfaction had an acceptable level due to dramatic improvements in health system. Nevertheless, the problems and weaknesses in the health care field also should be concerned and resolved and we have to improve the quality of services.
 

Proposing Ethical Guidelines for Providing Health Services to Afghan Immigrants and Refugees in Iran
Farzad Zakian Khoramabadi, Alireza Parsapour, Bagher Larijani, Amirhossein Takian, Ehsan Shamsi Gooshki,
Volume 16, Issue 0 (11-2023)
Abstract
The right to access health services as a part of fundamental human rights, affected by the conditions and facilities of governments and the international status, has always faced challenges. Despite the clarity of the general policies and upstream documents in the Iranian health system regarding the need to provide immigrants and refugees with health services and Iran’s membership in the relevant conventions, the implementation of the provisions of these documents is not consistent and complete for various reasons, including the inadequacy of laws related to immigrants and refugees and the incorrect implementation of some existing laws. The first draft of the ethical guidelines for providing health services to immigrants was prepared by the research team using the results of a review of relevant documents as well as a qualitative study and finalized according to the opinions of the participants in a panel of experts. In this draft, after explaining the values and ethical principles governing the provision of services to Afghan immigrants, the suggested guidelines and assignments were presented to the main stakeholders involved, including the policymakers and macro planners of the health system, institutions and centers providing health services, professionals and health service providers, professional organizations, civil society activists, media and non-governmental organizations,  and medical research and education authorities and researchers.

The Dignity of the Elderly: The Missing Link in the Search for Primary Health Care Services: A Qualitative Study
Mohaddeseh Mohsenpour, Amir Zoka, Fahimeh Amani, Elham Charoghchian Khorasani, Seyyed Javad Hosseini,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract
Societies that fail to adequately address the growing needs of the elderly and the consequences of aging will face significant challenges. A critical challenge in many countries involves ensuring the provision of accessible and affordable healthcare services for the elderly. The active engagement of older adults in seeking healthcare services and adhering to preventive care measures is crucial for reducing healthcare costs. This study aimed to elucidate the lived experiences of elderly individuals regarding the factors influencing their utilization of primary healthcare services in Mashhad, Iran. This qualitative study employed content analysis. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling from a list of elderly individuals registered with health centers in Mashhad, including those who regularly utilized services and those who had not visited in the past two years. Eighteen elderly individuals participated in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using open-ended questions and subsequent probing. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Bernard's formal content analysis approach. A significant barrier to accessing healthcare services identified by elderly participants was a lack of dignity during their visits to health centers. This theme encompassed two subcategories: perceived dignity violation and observed dignity violation. The imposition of feelings of worthlessness on the elderly was recognized as a prevalent cultural issue within society. Factors contributing to a diminished sense of dignity included: inadequate physical space to accommodate the limitations of the elderly, informal and unprofessional behavior of healthcare providers, excessive waiting times, unsanitary and overcrowded health centers, a lack of appointment scheduling, disruptions in internet and software systems that prolonged the healthcare process, shared waiting spaces with infants and young people, and insufficient seating. Participants emphasized the detrimental impact of a lack of dignity in healthcare settings, expressing feelings of worthlessness. These findings corroborate those of previous studies highlighting the paramount importance of dignity in healthcare environments. The perception among elderly individuals that healthcare services prioritize administrative processes over patient-centered care may discourage them from seeking preventive services. This study underscores the critical need for a cultural shift within healthcare systems to prioritize the dignity and respect of elderly patients and foster a supportive environment that encourages preventive care.

Barriers to Equitable Healthcare Access Among People Living with HIV
Heshmatolah Heydari,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that occurs in the final stage of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 39.9 million people were living with HIV worldwide in 2024, with an incidence rate of 1.3 million and a mortality rate of 630,000 globally. In Iran, the prevalence and incidence rates of HIV were reported as 54,000 and 2,400 people, respectively, with a mortality rate of 3,200 annually. Access to healthcare is considered one of the key goals of a health system. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to health services as a common standard. People living with HIV, as a vulnerable group, may face barriers to accessing healthcare services. This study aims to explore the challenges faced by people living with HIV in accessing equitable healthcare. This qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach between April and September 2024 in Iran. Participants included people living with HIV and healthcare providers, who were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through 10 face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. From the data analysis, 406 initial codes were extracted. These codes were then grouped based on similarities and differences into three main categories:
1.Factors related to clients (with subcategories: fear of transmitting the disease to others, poverty, physical problems, unfamiliarity with their rights, and non-adherence to treatment regimens)
2.Factors related to the healthcare system (with subcategories: discrimination in accessing healthcare services, contemptuous attitudes of healthcare providers, incompetency of healthcare providers, fear of infection by the virus, disclosure of patient information, negligence by medical centers in identifying infected individuals, and failure to conduct premarital testing)
3.Cultural factors (with subcategories: non-acceptance of infected individuals in society, stigma, and discrimination in marriage and childbearing).
The right to access healthcare services, confidentiality of information, the right to marry, financial protection, and active participation in society should be prioritized for people living with HIV.

Challenges of People Living with HIV in Equity Access to Health Care
Heshmatolah Heydari,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) occurs in the final stage of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 39.9 million people were living with HIV worldwide as of 2024, with reported global incidence and mortality rates of 1.3 million and 630,000, respectively. In Iran, the prevalence and incidence rates of HIV are reported at 54,000 and 2,400 cases, with an annual mortality rate of 3,200. Access to healthcare is considered a primary goal of the health system, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to access health services as a common standard. However, people living with HIV, as a vulnerable group, may face barriers to accessing healthcare services. This study aims to explore the challenges faced by people living with HIV in accessing equitable healthcare. This qualitative study utilized a conventional content analysis approach, conducted between April and September 2024 in Iran. Participants included people living with HIV and healthcare providers, recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected via 10 face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Data analysis revealed 406 initial codes, which were then categorized based on similarities and differences into three main categories: 1) Factors related to clients (with subcategories: fear of transmitting the disease to others, poverty, physical problems, unfamiliarity with self-rights, and non-adherence to treatment regimens). 2) Factors related to the healthcare system (with subcategories: discrimination in access to health services, contemptuous attitudes from healthcare providers, incompetency of healthcare providers, fear of virus transmission, disclosure of patient information, negligence of medical centers in identifying infected people, and failure to conduct premarital tests). 3) Cultural factors (with subcategories: non-acceptance of infected people in the general culture, stigma, and discrimination in marriage and childbearing). The rights to access health services, confidentiality of information, marriage, financial protection, and participation in society should be considered essential for people living with HIV. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring that individuals with HIV can live with dignity and equal access to healthcare.

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