Showing 40 results for Patient
Mozhgan Tanhapour, Ali Asghar Safaei,
Volume 11, Issue 6 (3-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Personal Health Record (PHR) systems play a key role in employing patient-centered care. Besides, the inclination to use Internet services has increased in recent years. The goal of this study is to describe the needed requirements for developing the proposed hybrid PHR model in a social network.
Materials and Methods: Using a descriptive study, a hybrid PHR model was designed in this paper to be implemented in the social health network. Then, by using observation, introspection and questionnaire methods, the requirements of the proposed social network were listed. The elicited requirements were then analyzed by SPSS 16 using descriptive statistics (absolute frequency). Finally, the proposed system was described in the Software Requirement Specification (SRS) standard format.
Results: The proposed hybrid PHR model has benefits of all existing PHR models and is most consistent with PHR definition (individuals control and manage their PHR). It is also applicable and reliable both for individuals and physicians. The results indicated that the proposed system had PHR capabilities as well as social network functionalities. So, the possibility of creating relations between individuals provided more benefits in comparison to other PHR models.
Conclusion: By providing reliable information, the social health network can improve patient-physician relationships. As a result, the proposed social health network can make possible the utilization of web 2.0 and social network capabilities in the healthcare field as well as the benefits of PHR records and patient-centered care.
Mohammad Arab, Ebrahim Jaafari Pooyan, Abbas Rahimi Forushani, Azam Sadat Rivandi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The quality of healthcare services is determinant in patients’ improvement process, upgrading their satisfaction, ranking healthcare centers, and preventing patients’ repeated referrals leading to more costs for healthcare centers and insurance companies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of services -- from the perspective of patients -- given by the laboratories having contract with Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO).
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the opinions of 302 patients having referred to the laboratories in contract with IHIO in Tehran were surveyed with a researcher-developed questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were used to analyze and report the results.
Results: The sample included 43.5% males and 56.5% females. Most of the participants were married (71/3%). Based on the results, the patients' perception of the quality of laboratory services was 78%. Their expectation of services was 85%. The gap between perception and expectation of clients in all dimensions was statistically significant (p<0/001).
Conclusion: The gap between clients’ perception and expectation in all dimensions suggests that there is some room for improving the quality of laboratory services. The results of this assessment can surely affect the way IHIO treats with laboratories in terms of extending contracts and strategic purchase of services from these centers. In addition, patients' opinions will be important in improving the quality of services.
Mohammad Zoladl, Abolfazl Dehbanizadeh, Esmat Nouhi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Providing safe healthcare services by medical groups, especially nurses, is a legal and human duty. Planning to prevent errors is of great importance, and the first step in this regard is to identify different types of errors and methods of error management. For this purpose, this study was conducted to examine the procedural and function errors of nurses working in Yasuj Shahid Beheshti Hospital.
Material and Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional research. The sampling method was complete enumeration and the target population included all nurses working at Yasuj Shahid Beheshti Hospital. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity and reliability (0.81) of the questionnaire were confirmed. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19.
Results: According to the findings of this study, 79.5% of nurses have procedural error. The most frequent error was the one made in the use of medical equipment in the ward (203 cases). Among the methods of error management, reporting and consulting with colleagues had the highest frequency (151 cases) and reporting to the patient had the lowest (8 cases).
Conclusion: The results showed that procedural and function errors by nurses were high and that nursing managers should organize training courses to identify and deal with nursing errors.
Reza Safdari, Mahboubeh Mirzaee, Mahni Mehdibagli,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Since safety, performance and outcome indicators can improve the quality of care, patient safety indicators are required to monitor and provide safety in care. The aim of this study was to compile a set of patient safety indicators for monitoring in patient safety dashboard.
Materials and Methods: A set of patient safety indicators was collected by reviewing such indicators presented in Australia, England and OECD, ESQH, and AHRQ organizations. Then, the indicators were validated during Delphi process in two stages by the staff of patient safety and quality improvement unit of governmental hospitals and patient safety experts at Tehran University of Medical Sciences treatment deputy office. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 13 and descriptive statistics.
Results: The present study was conducted on 62 patient safety indicators and eight main categories were classified as follows: safe hospital indicators, childbirth indicators, surgery-related indicators, mortality indicators, infection-control indicators, drug and prescription error indicators, falling indicator, and other special indicators.
Conclusion: Considering the identification of patient safety indicators in different dimensions, measuring the importance of these indicators and using them in the form of dashboard software in health centers will have a significant role in improving patient safety and the quality of health care.
Maryam Jafar Tajrishi, Seyed Jamaledin Tabibi, Kamran Hajinabi,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (11-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In today’s competitive market conditions of hospital industry, in addition to the quality of clinical services, a hospital should also concentrate on Hotelling Services Quality designed for the patient and his entourage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hoteling quality on patient loyalty.
Materials and Methods: The research method of the study was descriptive-survey with an applied goal. The research instrument was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were verified by face-to-face survey and Cronbach's alpha. The sample size according to Cochran formula for unknown population was 385 patients in two private hospitals of Tehran that were randomly selected. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics such as multivariate linear regression test.
Results: According to the findings of the study at 95% confidence level, the quality of human resources (p<0.001), the quality of hospital welfare services (p<0.001) and the quality of administrative affairs and workflow (p=0.002), the quality of cleaning and sanitation services (p<0.001) and the quality of building and hospital facilities (p=0.033) have a positive effect on patient loyalty. Also, two other dimensions, that is, the quality of hospital equipment and facilities (p=0.317) and the quality of hospital nutrition services (p=0.123) did not have a meaningful effect on patient loyalty.
Conclusion: From patients' perspective, the hotelling quality in the studied hospitals has a direct impact on patient loyalty, and its improvement will increase patients’ loyalty in those hospitals.
Maryam Amini, Leila Nazarimanesh, Mahmoud Mahmoudi Majdabadi Farahani,
Volume 12, Issue 6 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Patient participation is a widespread concept and is considered as an important issue for improving the quality of patient care and patient safety, which has been considered by health managers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of nurses' characteristics on their willingness to patient participation in patient safety in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences using PaCT-HCW questionnaire.
Materials & Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study. Cross-sectional information was gathered on 220 nurses working in teaching and non-teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, year of 2017-2018. For sampling, nurses were randomly selected from eligible wards. To collect information validated Malfait and et al questionnaire by named PaCT-HCW was used. The data were analyzed with SPSS 22 software using descriptive statistics and regression test at P-value less than 0.05.
Results: The nurses' two characteristics including the length of work experience in the hospital (P=0.043, B=0.323), and the length of work experience in the ward (P=0.006, B=0.604) The direct effect and type of hospital (P=0.001, B =-8.182) had a reverse effect on nurses' willingness to patient participation in patient safety
Conclusion: Health managers can consider The length of nurses' experience, as well as the type of hospital and the type of specialized ward, by creating the necessary facilities and developing educational programs for patient participation in patient safety.
Mahmoud Moradi, Sara Bahrami Nia,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (11-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health literacy of patients referring to specialist physicians' offices in the city of Kermanshah.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. The population of the study (patients and their companions) included those referring to specialist physicians' offices. In 2017, 380 people were randomly selected and were studied during three months. The data collection tool was Health Literacy for Iranian Adults Assessment Questionnaire. Its validity was confirmed by specialists and its reliability turned out to be 0.89 by Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed by statistical tests (Spearman's correlation, Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test) using SPSS software.
Results: The findings of the study showed that the health literacy of patients and their relatives, referring to physicians' offices in the city of Kermanshah, was relatively favorable, i.e., more than average. The three sources of "the Internet", "questions asked from doctors and medical staff" and "radio and television" are the priorities of information or health literacy. The results showed that people's health literacy was different in terms of age, sex, education, and occupation.
Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that often those people who have low and limited health literacy are among vulnerable community groups (having old ages, low educational levels, and low income). So, considering the health information needs and health literacy of vulnerable groups and designing simple and targeted education using the appropriate media are recommended.
Lia Mirsafaei, Hassan Kaviani,
Volume 13, Issue 6 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Given the increasing research, the purpose of this study was to explain the effectiveness of this training and its effective factors.
Materials and Methods: The present study is a mixed and explanatory project. In the first step to obtain the effectiveness of self-care education through quantitative meta-analysis and secondly to examine its effective factors the qualitative method of the case study was used. Statistical population of the first stage includes all relevant internal research and secondly, it included all cardiologists in Isfahan province. The data gathering tool is firstly a researcher-made checklist and for the second stage, the semi-structured interview method was used. To analyze the first stage data Comprehensive statistical meta-analysis software CMA Version II and for the second step, coding methods were used.
Results: The results showed that self-care education interventions were highly effective in cardiac patients(ES=1.616, P<0.05) In other words, the average effectiveness of self-care education in (experimental groups) 94% were more effective than control groups. On the other hand, the results of the second stage showed Factors affecting effectiveness include seven factors: education, personal control, physical activity, nutrition, emotion control, optimism, and continuous follow-up.
Conclusion: Heart disease self-care based on the above mentioned factors, as the most effective factor in controlling and improving heart disease this will lead to a longer life expectancy and a better quality of life for patients with heart disease.
Mahdi Isazadeh, Zahra Sadat Asadi, Mahdi Tahmasebi Gharajehmalek, Manijeh Soleimanifar,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (3-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Currently, electronic health(e-health) tools are known as an effective means of communication and educational tool in the field of health to manage conditions in sensitive situations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of electronic health literacy of patients referring to a selected military hospital.
Materials and Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was performed on 204 patients who referred to a selected military hospital in Tehran in 2019. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire and an e-health literacy questionnaire. SPSS software was used for data analysis, and the level of significance was set at 0.05.
Results: The mean score of electronic health literacy was 29.28±5.47. The level of e-health literacy of patients with different educational backgrounds was significantly different. Also, the electronic health literacy of patients using the Internet differed significantly. Patients' e-health literacy had a significant correlation with their educational level(p=0.02, r =0.169) and using the Internet(p<0.001, r=0.328).
Conclusion: Higher education is associated with higher levels of e-health literacy, and can be improved by creating internet training areas to access health information to improve e-health literacy.
Omid Zadi Akhule, Mojgan Lotfi, Ebrahim Nasiri, Saba Chalangari, Yasna Torkali Pur,
Volume 14, Issue 6 (1-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In order to improve patient safety, countries are seeking to monitor the safety of health systems and since surgical safety is an important part of patient safety, this study aimed to determine performance of Operating Room Personnel regarding the observance of surgical safety principles.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on operating rooms of hospitals of Mazandaran university of medical sciences in 2019. Research population included 271 personnel of operating room selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using demographic characteristics questionnaire and Surgical Safety Checklist of the World Health Organization. The data was analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The mean scores of performance of surgical technologists in the circulating and scrub roles and anesthesia technologists regarding the observance of surgical safety principles, were 23.2±3.1, 18.4±3 and 28.2±3.5 respectively. The performance level of all three specialties was moderate. Findings showed that there was a significant difference between performance score with educational level. The mean score of performance was significantly higher in the technologists with bachelor’s degree as compared to the technologists with associate degree (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Considering that the performance of the participants of the study regarding the observance of surgical safety principles, it was not at a desirable level, thus it is recommended to encourage operating room personnel to upgrade their education and to continue monitoring the performance of them regarding the observance of surgical safety principles.
Masoomeh Abdi Talarposhti, Ghahraman Mahmoudi Alemi, Mohammad Ali Jahani,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (10-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the reasons that caused healths clients are feeling dissatisfaction with health organizations is expectations that they are creating and not able to meet according to their expectations. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of production a branding model for health services with the of clients’ expectations approach.
Materials and Methods: This compound study was performed in 2021. The statistical population of this study in qualitative phase included 20 academic and institutional experts using snowball sampling and the Delphi technique. For the quantitative phase, 830 people referred to health centers were selected as service recipients. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by face, content, and structural validity, and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha of 0.96 Quantitative data were presented by EQS software version 6.1 with confirmatory factor analysis and using structural equations.
Results: The results of factor structure in healthcare branding based on six main themes of competitive position, brand equity, brand accessibility, brand consolidation in the minds of clients and the market, branding strategies, and consumer-brand relationship with 19 sub-themes based on the perspective of health services clients (CFI=0/9, TLI=0/9, SRMR=0/049, RMSEA=0/09) had a good fit and the internal consistency of the items had significant levels (P<0/05).
Conclusion: The results of this study show that 19 sub-main themes confirm the six-factor structure of health services branding and were one of the effective themes in branding from the perspective of clients. Since the branding of health services improves the quantity and quality of services provided in the health system, therefore, it is suggested that by creating innovation in the quantity and quality of services provided, access to health services, creating a competitive advantage and empowering employees and improving communication skills, an effective step can be taken in health services branding planning.
Ehsan Zarei, Kheyrollah Chavosh Sani, Mohammad Saadati, Soheila Khodakarim,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (10-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In recent years, public trust in health system has been considered one of the performance evaluation indicators of health systems. However, most of the research on public trust in health system is related to developed countries, and research in this regard is limited in Iran. A better understanding of trust in health system and some influential factors helps to develop targeted interventions to increase trust. The present study was conducted to investigate the level of public trust in health system in Rasht County.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 680 households (510 urban and 170 rural) were included. The data collection tool was a questionnaire to measure public trust in health system with 30 items and six dimensions, whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare and analyze the difference in public trust in health system between groups.
Results: The overall score of trust in health system was 66.7 out of 112. The highest score for the quality-of-care dimension was 16.38 out of 28, and the lowest for the cooperation quality of providers dimension was 7.47 out of 12. Among service providers, the highest trust was in nurses and specialist doctors, and the least was in traditional medicine service providers. Women, government employees, people without health insurance, people with excellent and good health status, those who had used hospital services, and those who were satisfied with the last service received had a high level of trust in the health system (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that despite people’s trust in the expertise and knowledge of physicians and other providers, public trust in health system was relatively moderate, indicating deficiencies in the health system’s performance. Focusing on physician-patient communication and improving communication skills, establishing electronic records and sharing patient information between health service providers, and respecting patient rights can build greater trust in the health system.
Roya Balaghiinaloo, Alireza Noruzi, Mohammadreza Esmaeili Givi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: It is not possible to provide health information services in health crises without a comprehensive understanding of these services and how to provide them due to the health crisis. Based on this, the aim of the current research was to obtain comprehensive information about the components of providing health information services in health crises.
Materials and Methods: The current research was conducted with a qualitative approach and a meta-combined method, using the seven-step method of Sandelowski and Barroso. The statistical population consisted of articles and theses published in persian and international databases between 1991 to 2022 AD and 1370 to 1400 solar. Out of a total of 8363 resources identified based on the critical skills assessment program, 40 resources were approved. Extracted information was coded and coding reliability was measured and confirmed using Kappa coefficient.
Results: From the results of the research, 74 codes were extracted in 21 concepts and 6 categories in the field of providing health information services to patients. which categories and codes include health information needs assessment (disease, health, health information sources, patients); accessibility and dissemination of health information (health information, access ways); Awareness and notification of health information (information, tools); Education (patients, managers and staff of hospital libraries, methods); Planning (health crisis, resources, budget, infrastructure, patients, librarians and Medical Information Specialists) and obstacles and limitations (expert force, budget, facilities and infrastructure and resources) were categorized.
Conclusion: Dealing with the issue and components of providing health information services to patients in health Disasters in hospital libraries can cause policymakers in this field to know more about the dimensions, concepts, and consequences of providing these services in order to provide access to health information for everyone, especially patients. According to the identified components, efforts can be made to prepare the necessary infrastructure in order to plan to strengthen the strengths and eliminate the existing weaknesses and make appropriate policies in order to play the role of health counseling and launch the health information service department in hospital libraries.
Azra Daei, Mohammad Reza Soleymani, Hasan Ashrafi-Rizi,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The role of information in improving the health of society and reducing healthcare costs is undeniable. However, in practice, there exists insufficient and incomplete information among healthcare providers. This lack of comprehensive information among market players leads to inefficiencies and failure in market performance. The main goal of the current research was to investigate health information asymmetry and inadequacy within the health information market.
Materials and Methods: This article is a narrative and unsystematic review. Studies were retrieved from the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Magiran, Sid and Google Scholar databases by using the keywords of information inadequacy, Asymmetry of health information done in the fields of article title, abstract and keywords. Subsequently, according to the purpose of the study, the researchers selected relevant resources and summarized their findings.
Results: 18 paper were selected for this research. In this research, we specifically address health information inadequacies across three key sections: patients, doctors, and insurance. At the end of each section, ways to solve these deficiencies were mentioned. Results Showed patients faced with the phenomenon of injustice in accessing health information, and the continuation of this injustice leads to the poverty of health information, and due to the lack of proper access to health information, the asymmetry of information between the doctor and the patient was created. Doctors, on the other hand, faced challenges in accessing up-to-date and evidence-based information for patient care. Asymmetric information could be exploited, resulting in induced demand. Insurances face the problems of inappropriate selection, moral hazard and demand induction by the supplier or consumer.
Conclusion: Information asymmetry has seriously penetrated the health field and there is a high level of unconfident and uncertainty in it. One of the ways to overcome the health information asymmetry and insufficiency of the health information market is the access of all stakeholders to the information.
Mehdi Raadabadi, Zahra Tolideh, Zahra Shoara, Zahra Yeganeh, Jamil Sadeghifar, Khalil Momeni,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: There is limited evidence about the effect of the corona disease epidemic on the efficiency of hospitals in Iran. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic on the productivity of public hospitals in Ilam province.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive research has investigated the performance of 9 hospitals in Ilam province during a four-year period(1397-1400) based on the Pabon Lasso graphic model. The desired data were extracted from the HIS system of the hospitals and the key performance indicators of BOR, BTR and ALOS were calculated. The Pabon Lasso diagram was drawn with Excel software.
Results: The results showed that the bed occupancy percentage in teaching hospitals is significantly higher than non-teaching hospitals (P<0.05). Based on the results, the percentage of bed occupancy and the rate of bed rotation after the covid 19 pandemic has decreased significantly (P<0.05). The average length of the stay of patients also increased after the pandemic (P<0.05). Overall evaluation of hospital efficiency based on the Pabén Lasso model shows that the frequency of hospitals located in Nakara district has decreased from 4 hospitals before the pandemic to 3 hospitals, although hospitals in Kara district have not changed during this period.
Conclusion: Most of the researched hospitals, especially non-teaching hospitals, have low bed occupancy. Weakness in the service delivery chain, especially diagnostic services and specialized and super-specialized services, is one of the main reasons for this situation. Moving towards a change in the way hospitals are managed and having more flexibility in the structure and implementation in the short term and prioritizing large hospitals with a complete chain of services can lead to a way out of the current inefficient situation.
Marziyeh Najafi, Roya Rajaee, Hojjat Rahmani, Behrooz Pouragha, Nazanin Sheikh Mohammadi, Ghasem Rajabi Vasokolaei,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Patient falls are common in hospitals, leading to financial loss and potential harm to patients, staff, and the organization. They can often be prevented with proper planning. This study aims to identify strategies to prevent patient falls and provide evidence to develop safety initiatives.
Materials and Methods: Our review used the Arksey and O’Malley scoping review model to identify strategies for preventing patient falls. We conducted searches with relevant keywords in the PubMed and Web of Science databases until May 25, 2024. In the final stage, we consulted with 18 experts using the Delphi method to gather their opinions. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method.
Results: Out of the 4202 studies initially found, 19 articles were chosen. The solutions to prevent patient falls can be grouped into six general categories: planning (which includes quality improvement programs, establishment of patient safety culture, patient fall prevention guidelines and programs), physical space (involving patient room design and the location of treatment staff), equipment (such as monitoring and alarms, pressure sensors, and standard beds), human resources (including communication networks between nurses and other treatment staff, as well as factors like self-efficacy and responsiveness of nurses, and their motivation and job satisfaction), training (covering education and patient participation, training of nurses and treatment staff, and electronic training), and control of executive processes (involving evaluation of risk factors and process control). The highest level of agreement among the members was on the equipment dimension (9.76), and the lowest was on the human resources dimension (8.65).
Conclusion: Patient falls are a common safety concern in hospitals and can be prevented with proper planning. Each hospital should use a combination of prevention methods tailored to its specific conditions.
Shabnam Ghasemyani, Kobra Movalled, Shafi Habibi, Rahim Khodayari Zarnaq,
Volume 18, Issue 5 (11-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In recent years, active patient participation in healthcare has been increasingly recognized as a vital component in health policies aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes. This study aims to identify the contexts and areas in which patients engage in safety-related measures within healthcare settings.
Materials and Methods: A scoping review of the English-language literature published from 2000 to 2021 was performed. The search strategy involved relevant keywords, including MeSH modifications, as well as common terms associated with the topic, such as patient collaboration, patient participation, patient engagement, patient involvement, patient education, and patient safety. Literature was sourced from the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases. The research design adhered to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley, and data analysis was conducted using a content analysis approach.
Results: The search strategy yielded a total of 2,951 articles, of which 38 articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies originated from the United States (14), the United Kingdom (8), and Australia (6). The publication years with the highest output were 2015 (5 articles) and 2017 (4 articles). Five key areas of patient participation were identified: fall prevention, prevention of drug interactions, medical error prevention and awareness, participation in infection control and staff hand hygiene, and educational initiatives. The articles identified focused on various areas, including participation in fall prevention (26.3%), education and awareness promotion, participation in infection control and hand hygiene (23.6%), prevention and awareness of medical errors (18.4%), and prevention of drug interactions (7.9%).The main findings of the reviewed studies were categorized into four areas: patient participation, methods of patient participation, examples and outcomes of patient participation, and challenges associated with patient participation in safety-related measures.
Conclusion: Promoting patient involvement in safety-related practices within healthcare is essential for bolstering patient safety. Such participation is contingent upon empowering patients by improving their health literacy and knowledge while simultaneously fostering a shift in the attitudes of healthcare providers. The involvement of policymakers, particularly at the levels of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, is critical in advancing patient and family participation in national hospital accreditation standards and facilitating broader initiatives aimed at transitioning the health system towards a model of participatory care.
Seyed Hadi Hosseini, Saeed Shahsavari, Yasaman Poormoosa, Mitra Rahimzadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (7-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Medical university-affiliated dental clinics, particularly those located in metropolitan areas, provide oral healthcare services to a wide range of patients with diverse demographic and socio-cultural backgrounds. The sustainability and continued effectiveness of these clinics largely depend on patients’ satisfaction and loyalty. Understanding the determinants of these two critical factors and exploring their interrelationship is essential for improving service delivery and enhancing patient retention. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze patient satisfaction and loyalty in a university dental clinic using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted during 2023–2024 on a sample of 190 patients who visited the dental clinic of Alborz University of Medical Sciences. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using two standardized questionnaires: one assessing dental patient satisfaction and the other measuring patient loyalty. Structural equation modeling was employed using AMOS software, and model fit was evaluated using standard indices including the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA).
Results: The SEM analysis revealed a significant and positive relationship between patient satisfaction and loyalty (β=0.931, P<0.001). Among the dimensions of satisfaction, hygiene and physical conditions (β=0.939), responsiveness and service delivery (β=0.847), appointment scheduling and waiting time (β=0.761) had the most substantial impact on overall satisfaction (P<0.001). Additionally, attitudinal (β=0.996) and behavioral (β=0.859) components emerged as key dimensions of patient loyalty. Model fit indices demonstrated an acceptable level of fit with the data (CFI=0.893, RMSEA=0.077).
Conclusion: To enhance patient satisfaction and foster loyalty, university dental clinics should prioritize internal operational improvements, particularly in the areas of environmental hygiene, service responsiveness, and time management. Creating a positive mental impression through these factors can serve as a foundational step in cultivating long-term loyalty, ultimately contributing to the clinic’s credibility and sustainable performance within a competitive healthcare environment.
Fatemeh Najafi, Hooman Shahsavari, Golnar Ghane, Zahra Zare,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Ensuring the quality of care and maintaining patient safety are fundamental challenges within the nursing profession. Having a culturally relevant and valid tool to assess the phenomenon of “missed nursing care” can significantly assist in identifying actions and conditions that result in negative patient outcomes or situations where care is inadequately provided. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to culturally adapt and validate the Iranian version of the Missed Care Survey tool.
Materials and Methods: The translation and psychometric testing were carried out in six stages: 1) translation from the original language to the target language, 2) comparison of the two translated versions, 3) back-translation, 4) comparison of the back-translated versions with the original, 5) pilot testing of the pre-final version with a monolingual sample, and 6) full psychometric validation of the pre-final version. These stages were conducted with a sample of 330 nursing staff from hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Results: A total of 330 participants were included in the present study, the majority of whom were female and worked rotating shifts. Approximately half of the participants were aged between 25 and 34 years, and the longest duration of employment in the nursing profession was more than ten years (100 participants, 30.3%). In addition, more than half of the participants held a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and the majority worked more than 30 hours per week (316 participants, 95.8%).The Cronbach’s alpha for the entire instrument was 0.89, and for the subscales of Part B it ranged from 0.79 to 0.93. Moreover, the test–retest correlation coefficients for Part A (missed nursing care, including a list of nursing activities) and Part B (reasons for missed nursing care) were 0.83 and 0.80, respectively. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable and satisfactory model fit for the three-factor structure of Part B based on overall goodness-of-fit indices. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for the instrument’s robust construct validity and reliability, supporting its suitability for assessing missed nursing care in clinical settings.
Conclusion: Given the critical role of nurses in the healthcare system, providing high-quality and safe nursing care becomes increasingly important. The growing diversity of populations worldwide highlights the pressing need for researchers and healthcare providers to access valid tools across different cultural groups and languages. The Iranian version of the “Missed Nursing Care Survey” is a reliable tool with acceptable internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and sufficient validity due to its correlation with the original version. Therefore, this tool can be utilized in studies aimed at generating deeper insights into the factors influencing or moderating this complex phenomenon.
Maryam Amirshekari, Seyyedeh Maryam Seyyedi, Faeze Fakhri, Mohsen Yaghmaei,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (11-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Shift handover is one of the key processes in clinical settings, during which patient care is transferred from one healthcare team to the next. Weaknesses in this process—particularly in high-pressure environments such as operating rooms—may lead to reduced quality of information transfer and staff dissatisfaction. This study aimed to determine the effect of the standard SBAR communication model on the quality of the shift handover process and the satisfaction of operating room personnel.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest design was conducted in 2023 at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft. Sampling was performed using a census method, and a total of 66 operating room staff members participated in the study. The intervention consisted of a two-hour training session (including theoretical and practical components) on the SBAR model. Data were collected using the standard CEX checklist to assess handover quality and a modified version of the Petrovic questionnaire to evaluate staff satisfaction. The validity and reliability of the instruments were confirmed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and paired t-tests. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.
Results: The study participants included 66 operating room staff members, comprising 39 women and 27 men, with a mean age of 30.2±2.45 years. The mean score of shift handover quality significantly increased after SBAR training, rising from 73.80±13.99 before the training to 102.18±10.69 after the training, which corresponds to an improvement of approximately 20.9% relative to the total score range of the instrument (P<0.001). Furthermore, staff satisfaction with the shift handover process also improved, increasing from 37.85±4.77 to 42.41±4.76, representing an improvement of approximately 11.4% relative to the total instrument score range (P<0.001). These changes indicate the positive impact of SBAR training on both the shift handover process and the staff experience.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that training and implementation of the SBAR model were associated with significant improvements in handover quality and staff satisfaction. These results suggest that using structured communication tools may help improve certain aspects of the handover process. However, due to the lack of a control group and the short follow-up period, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions about the long-term effects of the intervention. Therefore, SBAR-based training may be considered as a recommended option; however, further studies with stronger designs and in diverse clinical settings are needed to more accurately evaluate its outcomes.