Journal of

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Abstract Background: Hospital managers' decision-making styles indicate the usual pattern managers use to make their decisions. This paper is aimed to determine the variety of managers' decision-making styles` in public and private hospitals in Shiraz. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 106 administrative, financial, internal and nursing managers were selected from 28 public and private hospitals through census sampling technique to participate in this study. The data were collected by a 22-item questionnaire (α = 0.86) and analyzed using T-Test and ANOVA in significance level of 0.05. Results: Studied managers used rational decision-making style more often than avoidance of decision-making style. Older and official managers and private hospital managers used the intuitive decision-making style more often.Managers who had not attended management training courses used the intuitive and dependent decision-making styles more often. Managers who were teaching in the fields of nursing and midwifery used rational decision-making patterns more often. Conclusion: It seems necessary to provide sufficient ground for scientific and evidence-based decision making for all hospital managers. Therefore identifying present obstacles and providing an environment in which managers could improve their decision-making skills is recommended.

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Background: One of the main components of the quality of health services is patient safety. This study aimed to determine safety culture status of psychiatric patients from the viewpoint of the medical staff of Ibn Sina and Hafez hospitals in Shiraz.
 
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study performed as a cross-sectional one in 2017. The study population included 165 health care personnel of the hospitals which were selected by census sampling. The study tool was a standard questionnaire for the hospital's safety culture. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression using SPSS version 23 software at a significant level of α = 5%.
 
Results: The average of safety status of the patients calculated 154.62 ± 19.74. The patient safety culture was estimated at an acceptable level (64.1%). The dimensions of personnel affairs (36%) and non-punitive responses to errors (34.7%) were in an unfavorable situation. There was a significant association between the employment status of personnel and patient safety (P<0.05).
 
Conclusion: Despite the acceptable condition of the patient's safety culture, however, the dimensions of the non-responsive response to the mistakes and issues related to the personnel were in an unfavorable situation and require prompt and appropriate actions. It is suggested that hospital authorities to provide the necessary interventions including cultures for reporting of errors, organizing comprehensive training programs, and continuously improving the clinical governance system.
 

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Background: Communication is one of the central concepts and an integral part of the nursing profession. This study aimed to determine the effect of communication skills training of nurses on patient satisfaction with nursing staff services in teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.
 
Materials and Methods: The Comparative study carried out in 2017. The research population included nurses from educational hospitals and patients referring to them. Four hundred patients were selected through convenience sampling method and one hundred trained nurses and one hundred untrained nurses were randomly chosen. The data collection instruments were a standard questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS₂₃ using T-test, ANOVA, Tukey test, and Pearson correlation coefficient at α = 5% level.
 
Results: Mean scores of nurse-patient commination and satisfication of nursing services among patients under care of trained nurses were 93.5 ± 21.08 and 176.24 ± 22.14 and mean score of patients under care of untrained nurses the scors 81.76 ± 18.83 and 166.36 ± 41.10, respectively. A significant direct correlation was found between nursing-patient commination score and patient satisfaction score (P= 0.023, r= 0.681). Patients under the care of trained nurses were more satisfied with nursing services than those served by untrained nurses (P= 0.012). The results revealed that patient satisfaction had a significant relationship with age (P<0.001) and marital status (P₌0.031).
 
Conclusion:  Implementation of communication skills training courses for nurses leads to improved patient satisfaction. Hospital directors are recommended to consider holding regular communication skills training courses for their nursing staff.

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Background: Brand loyalty is one of the most important factors in maintaining and success of huge organizations such as hospitals. This study aimed to survey the factors that affect the patients’ loyalty to hospital brands in teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).
 
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study conducted in 2017. The study population consisted of 385 clearance patients who were admitted to educational hospitals in Shiraz using stratified sampling method in February 2017 to March 2018. Information was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and data analyzed by descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA, and multiple regressions using SPSS version 23 at a significant level of α = 5%.
 
Results: Patients’ satisfaction (β=0.333, P<0.001), trust in brand (β=0.265, P=0.007), and commitment (β=0.181, P=0.011) had a direct and positive effect on the patients’ loyalty to the hospital brand.
 
Conclusion: According to this study results, hospital managers should pay an attempt to inform the patients about their treatment procedure, follow up the patients’ health after discharge, and increase the communication between personnel and patients. These could contribute to better image and experience for patients resulting in loyalty to the hospital brand.