Journal of

---

Background: The Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) initiative emphasizes on changes in traditional hospitals’ approach in care provision. This study aimed to provide scientific evidence required for successful planning and implementation of the HPH in the country’s educational hospitals.
 
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, opinions of 300 frontline health professionals working in the ten educational hospitals affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were examined using validated tools in 2016. Descriptive data analysis procedures and logistic regression analysis (using Enter method) were applied by SPSS software version 22. The level of significance was considered less than 0.05.
 
Results: The mean scores and SD for applicability of the HPH standards were 66.06±17.51. Gender (OR=3.19 95%CI: 1.33- 8.40), occupation type (OR= 1.50 95% CI: 0.65- 0.70), hospital type (general vs. specialized) (OR= 1.59 95%CI: 1.10- 1.25), number of active beds (OR=3.84 95% CI: 1.56-9.42) and having prior knowledge about the HPH program (OR=2.81 95% CI: 1.31-4.80) were identified as significant predictors of the HPH standards’ feasibility in the studied hospitals.
 
Conclusion: Given that study findings, at least the baseline subjective inclination to adapt the HPH standards in the educational hospitals do not exist through the Iranian health care providers’ points of view. As the first step in progress towards preparation for implementing the HPH standards, planning of tailor-made educational programs for hospitals’ staff in Iran is recommended.
 

---

Background: Medical errors represent a serious problem for intensive care and increase the length of stay and mortality. Tracking of medical errors in hospital have focused on voluntary reporting of errors, but 10 to 20 % of errors are ever reported and, of those, 90-95 percent cause no harm to patients. This study was conducted to recognition and analysis medical errors in Intensive Care Unit by GTT in 2019.   
Materials & Methods: This study was a retrospective descriptive-experimental and was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in Tehran. In 2019 for 13 weeks,127 records were separately reviewed by two nurses by using the IHI checklist and final confirmation was performed by the physician. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software.
 Results. 622 triggers, 277 adverse events related to triggers, 121 adverse events without trigger and totally 398 adverse events were identified in ICU. 93 records from 127 records had adverse events. The incidence rate of adverse events was 73/2%, 3/13 adverse events per pa­tient and the incidence rate was 24/8 adverse events per 100 patients-day. The most frequency of events and harms were respectively related to care, intensive care, surgery and medication modules.
Conclusion. According to the result of patient records reviewing and the high rate of AEs that required intervention and also the result of similar study, we can state this tool is more reliable than other methods to detect AEs, such as voluntary reporting of error.
 

---

Background: Performance appraisal and quality evaluation of the services provided will achieve the organizational goals and improve the level of staff capability. In order to evaluate accurately and efficiently, we need to use standard indices, to compare the quality and quantity of work with standards, to know the current conditions and to solve its problems
 Methods: This study is an applied study. This was done through a combined method of reviewing the texts and consensus of experts. Initially, the literature review and emergency evaluation indices were extracted, then the duplicate indices were removed and similar indices were merged, then weighted experts and questionnaires were compiled with the indices. Content validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest were used to assess the validity, internal consistency and reproducibility of the questionnaire, respectively. Data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS 20 software.
 Finding: Final questionnaire with 105 questions in 8 areas including management and leadership (15); human resources (22); physical space and facilities (18); medicine and medical equipment (6); guidelines and policies (17); patient-centered (10); documentation of patient records (5); quality and time indices in the emergency department (12). The results showed that the final questionnaire was reliable (0.89) and repeatable (ICC = 0.98).
Conclusion: The Hospital Emergency Performance Assessment Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument and can be used to evaluate the performance of hospital emergency services.

---

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the income changes resulting from the implementation of this book in the hospitals of the University of Medical Sciences.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted based on retrospective information related to the first half of 1398 of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Data related to this study were collected from patients' records using hospital information system and hospital intelligent management system of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. In order to analyze the data, the average of Rials per service was used for each hospital and type of admission.
Results: The results showed that with the implementation of the book of relative value 2018, the total income of the studied hospitals will increase by 10.67%. In total, the share of total book codes included in the study is 41% of the total, of which 20% is the professional component, 19% is the technical component and 2.4% is anesthesia. After book codes, hoteling with 26% and consumer goods with 14% and medicine with 11% make up the rest.
Conclusion: The approach of the 2018 book is more towards temporary inpatient services and encourages providers not to admit patients to receive services. Also in this book, the proper growth of the technical component of services will occur, which in other words indicates the approach and encouragement of investment in the hospital sector.

---

Background: Considering the importance and position of the health sector in socio-economic development programs, it is necessary to be aware of the current situation and to recognize its issues and problems. Determining costs and the amount of profit or even loss in the health sector helps in managing costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost of common laboratory services and compare them with the tariffs approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in the selected hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional and retrospective study. In this study, activity-based costing technique was used. The study population was the laboratory of the selected hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools were information forms, software, interviews and direct observation. The analysis was performed using Excel 2016 software and finally, the cost price was compared with the approved tariff.
Results: The findings indicated that the highest and lowest costs were related to the cost of manpower and energy carriers, respectively. The highest cost was related to the urine analysis test and the lowest was related to the sodium and potassium tests.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the cost of conventional laboratory services in the selected hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the tariffs approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2019 were different.

---

Background and Objectives: the  purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Yas Job Satisfaction Questionnaire in order to develop a useful tool for measuring and evaluating job satisfaction among Yas Hospital Complex staff.
Materials and Methods: Face validity, content validity ratio, and content validity index were used to evaluate the questionnaire's validity and reliability. Cronbach's alpha and the halving technique were used among 150 medical personnel in this cross-sectional study The key elements of the final questionnaire were four dimensions of leadership style, job nature, reward system, performance appraisal, and organizational climate.To report the mean of quantitative variables at different levels, qualitative factors were evaluated and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: There were 111 females and 39 males among the 150 participants. The content validity ratio and content validity index were both acceptable.Cronbach's alpha method reported a reliability of 0.92 for the questionnaire, indicating that the internal reliability is acceptable.The lowest level of satisfaction was in the leadership style dimension, with an average of 10.53 4.91, while the highest level of satisfaction was in the job nature dimension, with an average of 21.24 7.05.

Conclusion: The Yas Job Satisfaction Questionnaire has acceptable validity and reliability to assess the level of job satisfaction among medical staff, according to the findings of this study. Furthermore, job satisfaction was moderate in most of the dimentions surveyed.

---

Introduction: After the increase in the incidence and global spread of Covid-19 virus, medical centers faced a number of problems and challenges following this crisis. In order to increase the quality and safety of medical services and their optimal management, both in critical and non-critical situations, health care providers in different countries of the world have used various methods that increase the organizational commitment to improve quality.
Method: This study is a cross-sectional analytical research. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire based on 903 accreditation standards notified by the Ministry of Health by available sampling method from 326 employees of Masih Daneshvari Center in 2021. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.
Results: The results showed that out of an average of 8 areas related to accreditation standards, participants in the areas of professional ethics and compliance with the recipient of services, infection control, environmental health and waste management mentioned the most compliance in the emergency situation caused by Covid-19 and areas of clinical management and patient safety were ranked next.
Discussion and conclusion: According to the participants, observing the areas of environmental health and waste, service recipients and infection control has been more practical during Corona pandemic. The principles of accreditation seem to be accepted as quality improvement standards and can be an effective guide in preparing medical centers for emergency conditions.

---

Background and Purpose: Medical imaging is one of the most expensive sections of a hospital due to the use of superior technology, specialized personnel, and adherence to special protective regulations, all of which have a direct impact on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) provides an overview of hospital activities, enabling the identification and management of costs and resources with greater accuracy and ease. The purpose of this study is to examine the total costs of services and the unused capacity of resources to provide financial management solutions for hospital administrators.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive and retrospective study was conducted on the statistics and accounting data of a general hospital in Tehran in 2018. The study falls under the category of applied research due to the potential use of the results in financial management and resource consumption. The data collection method included the review of documents and financial statements, timing of all activities in the imaging department, and calculations based on the time-driven activity-based costing method, using Excel software, with the elimination of the cost of unused resources.
Results: The study found that the total cost was mostly below the approved tariffs, with the main cost components being 34% manpower, 23% overhead, 22% equipment, and 15% consumables. The findings indicated that only 58% of resource provisioning expenses played a role in determining the total cost of services.
Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that reducing the unused capacity of resources and organizational reforms can decrease the total cost of services, increase profitability, and optimize resource usage to enhance the quality of hospital services.

---

Background and Purpose: Infections related to inadequate healthcare practices can have adverse effects on healthcare systems. This study aims to identify the gap between the current handwashing practices and standard levels by determining the frequency of handwashing among staff at Shahid Modares Hospital in Tehran.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the wards of Shahid Modares Hospital between 2018 and 2019. The tool comprised two parts: job information and hand hygiene practices at different times and specific actions. Observers directly monitored all staff in each shift using a headcount method. Each column represented the hand hygiene compliance score of a specific professional group, allowing simultaneous performance evaluation.
Results: Out of 640 observed instances, 202 involved the use of disinfectants, 255 involved handwashing, 111 involved glove use, and in 71 instances, hand hygiene was not observed. The highest compliance occurred when staff intended to contact the patient's body, while the lowest compliance was observed after performing surgery on the patient.
Conclusion: Given the significant role of nurses in therapeutic interventions, multifaceted training interventions, the drafting of hand hygiene policies, and increasing awareness among department officials should prioritize this group of employees. These measures aim to bring practices closer to desired standards and prevent unwanted consequences.

---

Background and purpose: The globalization of medical tourism has intensified competition among destinations, making it crucial to identify key success factors. While research emphasizes the role of host communities in tourism development, non-medical aspects of medical tourism remain underexplored. This study examines healthcare staff perspectives to identify the drivers and barriers affecting medical tourism in public hospitals.
Methods: This qualitative study employed structured interviews with 16 healthcare staff at Masih Daneshvari Hospital, selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted in person during the summer of 2024 until data saturation was reached. Data analysis followed an inductive content analysis approach using MAXQDA software for coding, grouping, and categorization of themes into drivers and barriers.
Results: Key drivers of medical tourism development include skilled human resources, strong medical potential, affordable healthcare and associated costs, and the presence of complementary attractions. Conversely, major barriers include inadequate welfare services for medical tourists, managerial and institutional inefficiencies, hospital infrastructure deficiencies, and political and cultural challenges.
Conclusion: Developing a successful medical tourism sector requires a holistic approach. Identifying, prioritizing, and implementing strategic plans to strengthen facilitators and address obstacles are essential steps toward sustainable growth in this field.

---

Background and purpose: Hekmat (Wisdom) implies deep knowledge, understanding, and sagacity. Hospital services are uniquely dependent on human resources; therefore, beyond technical expertise, staff commitment is essential for maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. A "Hekmat-based hospital" is defined as an institution delivering care founded on three pillars: human dignity, medical knowledge/wisdom, and Islamic ethics. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing hospital accreditation through the lens of the Hekmat-based hospital approach.
Methods: This qualitative study employed conventional content analysis based on the Graneheim and Lundman approach. Data were collected through purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with 62 participants (32 physicians and 30 patients) from various departments until data saturation was reached. Additionally, a comprehensive review of 20 upstream documents related to health, medicine, education, and culture within the Iranian health system (post-1979 Revolution) was conducted to supplement the field data.
Results: The analysis of interviews yielded 10 main categories representing the components of accreditation in a Hekmat-based context. These categories included: social, cultural, and religious issues; facilities, equipment, and human resources; communication skills; patients' financial and livelihood challenges; knowledge and education; tangible environmental factors; economic factors; cultural dynamics; patients' psychological resilience; and service reliability.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that mutual understanding of emotions and beliefs, patience, reciprocal respect, and effective knowledge exchange are core expectations shared by both physicians and patients. Addressing these primary and secondary needs is a prerequisite for achieving a standardized hospital model aligned with the vision of Hekmat-based medicine.