Payavard Salamat

The Relationship Between Culture And Readiness To Accept Transformation In Single-Specialty Hospitals In Tehran

Heshmatollah Asadi

Background and Aim: Readiness to face changes and transformation in health fields is one of the main factors in health organizations’ success. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relation between culture and readiness to accept transformation in single-specialty hospitals.

Materials and Methods: Readiness to face changes and transformation in health fields is one of the main factors in health organizations’ success. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relation between culture and readiness to accept transformation in single-specialty hospitals.

Results: Studied hospitals had low power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, feminist, collectivist and short-term orientation. There was a significant relation between readiness to accept transformation with factors such as: Power distance (P<0/05, r=-0/236), uncertainty avoidance (P<0/05, r=0/143) and being feminist (P<0/05, r=-0/239). There was no significant relation between readiness to accept transformation with factors such as collectivist and short-term orientation (P>0/05).

Conclusion: Low power distance, high uncertainty avoidance and being feminist are effective factors in accepting transformation among studied hospitals’ staffs. These staffs are culturally prepared to accept evolution plans.

The Effect Of Lactobacillus Paracasei Isolated From Yoghurt On The Growth And Production Of Staphylococcus Aureus Enterotoxin

Ali Misaghi

Background and Aim: Probiotics are useful bacteria which, after being consumed, leave useful effects on human health. The present study was conducted to examine the antimicrobial effect of Lactobacillus paracasei on pathogenic bacteria, especially on Staphylococcus aureus in the field of food microbiology.

Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei isolated from yoghurt (1×10⁸cfu/ml) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (1×10⁵cfu/ml) was assessed at two different temperatures of 25 ^°C and 35^°C in TSB. Then, samples from cocultures and control were pour plated in Baird Parker agar and MRS agar to compute the number of S. aureus and Lactobacillus paracasei at 0, 24, 48, 72 hours after incubation. Then, enterotoxin production was evaluated by ELIZA rida screen kit. The data were investigated by ANOVA and K-square (chi-square) tests.

Results: It was found that compared to controls, Lactobacillus paracasei inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and reduced the number of S. aureus cells about 3 logs in 25^°C and 2 logs in 35^°C. The production of A, C, and E enterotoxins was inhibited by S. aureus at a temperature of 25^°C according to ELIZA rida screen test. The figure was 35^°C for enterotoxins E and A.

Conclusion: Probiotics can be used as a new approach for the biocontrol of S. aureus without using antibiotics.

Factors Affecting The Entrepreneurial Behavior Of TUMS Research Centers Managers

Mahdi Khayatan

Background and Aim: Entrepreneurial roles can be performed by managers at different levels. In fact, entrepreneurship can be interpreted as a tendency adopted by managers towards their environment in which they should have the ability to discover new opportunities for their innovative activities. This study aims to identify factors affecting entrepreneurial behavior of research centers managers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).

Materials and Methods: Considering the sample size determined through Cochran’s formula, 90 questionnaires were distributed among TUMS research centers managers. The data were analyzed based on structural equation modeling applying partial least squares approach through Smartpls.2 software.

Results: Of the 90 questionnaires distributed, 67 were acceptable for study. The model created for effective factors enjoyed an acceptable goodness of fit index (GOF=0.49). Factors loading for the observed variables were above 0.4 and the constructs had an acceptable level of reliability and validity.

Conclusion : The results show that contextual and behavioral factors have a positive effect on entrepreneurial behavior and that structural factors have a negative effect on it.

Determination Of Breast Density Using Fuzzy Logic

Mostafa Langarizadeh

Background and Aim: The risk of breast cancer increases directly in line with breast density. Therefore, it is important to pay more attention to denser breasts in order to detect abnormalities. The aim of this paper was to design and suggest a quantitative method to categorize breast density in digital mammogram images using fuzzy logic.

Materials and Methods: This was a crosectional study which resulted in developing a new system. The research population was including patients who undergo mammography in National Cancer Society of Malaysia during 2010 to 2011. Sample included 220 mammogram images which was selected randomly. Data analysis was done using SPSS with Kappa statistics.

Results: Accuracy level of 92.8% was obtained based on evaluation of the system and there was a strong correlation between the system output and radiologists’ estimation (K=0.87, p=0.0001).

Conclusion : Results obtained from the suggested system had higher performance than similar systems. Therefore, it could be concluded that the fuzzy logic may be used in this area. In addition, such systems could be helpful for physicians.

Study Status Of Self-Care Behaviors And Gender Differences In Patients With Heart Failure

Atefeh Ghanbari

Background and Aim: Gender in performing self-care behaviors is a non- modifiable factor. Despite the belief that women are better than men in self-care, there is little evidence to challenge this view. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of self-care behaviors in men and women with heart failure.

Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 239 patients with heart failure were assessed. Data were collected by Self-Care Heart Failure Index, Cardiac Depression scale, and Mini Mental status Examination questionnaires . Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 , descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis , t-test and Logistic regression ) .

Results: Mean score of self-care behaviors in men and women was 44/60±12/05 and 39/71 ± 9/88 from 100 total score, respectively. In the regression model, gender was not a significant predictor of self-care in any dimensions but, there was a significant relationship between sex and self-care confidence (OR=0/52, CI=0/27-1/03), which indicated that women as compared to men have less chance of self-care behaviors due to their status of self-confidence.

Conclusion : In attention to the point that women had worse self-care behaviors in all dimensions, it is suggested more attention be paid in identifying patients at risk of poor self-care behaviors while planning care and treatment for them, since they are more vulnerable and have more emotional effects of disease and gender should be regarded as a predictive factor.

Study Of Nurses' Views About The Impact Of Hospital Information System On Nursing Processes In Farabi Hospital In Tehran

Ahmad Fayaz Bakhsh

Background and Aim: Nurses are major end-users of hospital information systems (HIS). Therefore their views about strengths and weaknesses of the system are important, and, if addressed, could improve the software system and, in turn, the hospital performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the nurses' perspective about the impact of HIS in Farabi Hospital on nursing process in terms of precision, accuracy and speed .

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study . Validity of the adopted questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts in the field. Its reliability was confirmed by Cronbakh-α coefficient test.

Results: Sixty one percent of responding nurses were somehow satisfied with the implemented HIS, while a remaining 30.5 percent had a complete satisfaction. Also, nurses comments on HIS showed, in general, it enhanced the effectiveness of their related processes.

Conclusion : According to the nurses, HIS has improved the speed, precision and accuracy of the processes. However, at the same time references was made to some shortcomings in the system, such as low-speed and lack of envision for some important processes, such as appropriate forms for documentation.

Invitro Evaluation Of The Effect Of Fetal Hemoglobin Inducer Drugs On Proliferation And Differentiation Of Erythroid Progenitors With β -Thalassemia Gene Mutation

Shaban Alizadeh

Background and Aim: Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the increased levels of HbF inducing drugs should be advised for effective induction. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular effects of the drugs thalidomide and sodium butyrate considered as HbF inducer agents.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, CD133+ cord blood stem cells carrying mutations of heterozygous β-thalassemia were isolated and differentiated into erythroid lineage. In order to evaluate the expression of the erythroid markers, CD71 and CD235a, was analysed. For this purpose, the RNA extracted from erythroid precursors at days 6 and 12 of erythroid differentiation and cDNA synthesized, and then the expression of these genes was performed by quantitative Real-time PCR technique.

Results: The results of this study showed the significant effect of thalidomide on erythroid proliferation as compared to sodium butyrate and control group (P<0.05). Also, thalidomide significantly increased CD71expression and decreased CD235a expression as compared to sodium butyrate and control groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion : Thalidomide may play its role on HbF induction by increasing the proliferation of early erythroid precursors.

The Role Of Prior Knowledge On Entrepreneurial Alertness Level And Opportunity Recognition In The Field Of Health Entrepreneurship

Elahe Meigounpoory

Background and Aim: Nowadays, entrepreneurs in different fields of health, have an important role in economic development. Prior knowledge has an effect on entrepreneurial alertness and opportunity recognition and with considering the lack of research in this important field, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of various aspects of prior knowledge on entrepreneurial alertness & and opportunity recognition .

Materials and Methods: To implement this descriptive-survey study, a questionnaire based on Likert scale sent to 63 active health field managers in east of Tehran, where 52 people responded to the questions. In this study the effect of eight variables of prior knowledge were investigated on entrepreneurial alertness and opportunity recognition. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15 and Spearman correlation test.

Results: Results showed that majori ty of perior knowledge aspects have meaningful relationship to entrepreneurial alertness and opportunity recognition . However, relationship between component of technology skills with both variables was not confirmed. Also, relationship between education level and entrepreneurial alertness, there was no.

Conclusion: Reinforcing of prior knowledge component led to increased entrepreneurship.