M Parvareh, Gh Moradi, B Nouri, F Farzadfar, N Rezaei,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (12-2017)
Abstract
Background and Objectives:In order to determine the workload of health workers(Behvarz), this research was conducted for work measurement and time assessment in rural health centers(health house).
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 30 health centers during a routine working day in Saghez in 2015 using the “stop watch method”. The time and frequency of the processes were recorded in a checklist. We estimated and compared spent, standard, expected and pessimistic time, and also the mean repetition for each process per day and month as the unit of time.
Results: The mean real working time was about 157.5 minutes (33%) per day, which was mostly (35.5 minutes) spent on the affairs of health volunteers. Care for non-communicable diseases was the most frequent task with an average of 2.4 times per day. In a month, family planning was undertaken more than other processes. The time of most activities like mother care, elderly care, care for communicable and non-communicable disease was significantly lower than the expected and pessimistic times (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The time spent by health workers was low and unscheduled, particularly for important activities of primary health care. It seems that it is necessary to revise the models and methods of service provision in health centers. Efficient use of existing personnel, reducing unnecessary activities and adding more service packages according to the health system priority seem to be important requirements in the first level of health system.
