Journal of

 Background and Aim: One of the most important factors to present successful managers is general health. If managers have not highly general health, then they will encounter many problems. Therefore, this research is aimed to induce the general health among Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals’ administrators. 

 Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, deceptive and analytical study was conducted among 25 Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals administrators in Tehran, Iran. The research tool was general health questionnaire developed by Goldberg and Hillier to assess the administrators general health and its demographic details. Data was analyzed by SPSS software and using analytic statistical methods.

 Results: The results of this study showed that the hospitals administrators had normal range of general health. Also, there was significant correlation between anxiety with physical dysfunctions, and depression with physical dysfunctions, and anxiety with social functions.

 Conclusion: The rate of general health among TUMS hospitals administrators is higher than the other mangers compared with similar studies in Iran and out of Iran. Therefore, we suggest periodic medical examination, general health training, and consultant services to develop or maintain the general health among healthcare managers.

 Background and Aim: Complaint is the expression of dissatisfaction that needs a response and investigation. It is an effective tool to improve the quality of services. The aim of this study was the survey of complaints, factors affecting them, and the complaint process in Firoozgar Hospital.

 Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study. All registered complaints, such as written, verbal and telephone complaints were reviewed in 2012. The data were extracted from the complaint forms of Firoozgar Hospital, which included several parts: personal information, ward name, person complained of, and explanations about the problem. Then, effective factors in complaints were classified and then analyzed by descriptive statistics.

 Results: The most frequent complaints were related to nurses (192 cases). Complaints about doctors were 171 cases. Inappropriate communication (23.64%) was at the top of patient complaints and complaints about fees (14.18%) was the next. Among paraclinical and support units, installations unit had the highest number of complaints (52 cases).

 Conclusion: Since inappropriate communication was the point being complained of more than any other issue, interventions in this area should be considered. Hospitals should identify the root of problems systematically.

 Background and Aim: Cream is a rich dairy product with the pH close to neutral and limited preservation capability. Cream is suitable and rich for microbial growth. In the past few decades, there was a great concern in contamination of food products.

 Salmonella and Yersinia species are two important pathogens causing food poisoning and human gastroenteritis. The aim of the present study is to investigate the quality of traditional cream for bacterial contamination.

 Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. In total, 100 unpasteurized cream samples were collected from 5 regions in Tehran. The Salmonella was enriched in Selenite-F broth, and Yersinia in phosphate buffer in two weeks in cold condition according to CDC, and then were inoculated in MacConky and CIN agar for 24 hours. The suspected colonies were examined for phenotype and their identification was confirmed by API-20 E.

 Results:  In general, 29% of tested cream samples were contaminated with at least one kind of bacteria, 3% with Yersinia (1strain Y.enterocolitica, 1 Y.intermedia, 1 frederiksenii), and 2% with Salmonella paratyphi B. The other bacteria like Escheichia coli, Enteobacter, klebsiella, and Citobacter were also isolated. Five samples were contaminated with two kinds of bacteria.

 Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that more quality control should be applied on the cream produced in the city of Tehran by health control office for food products. 

 Background and Aim: Healthcare processes have caused many dangers to patients, and the increase of medical errors is one of the most important consequences of such processes. The present research is conducted to reduce medical errors through presenting a model to control them.

 Materials and Methods: In this mixed (quantitative-qualitative) research, a conceptual model was assembled. Then using the model and an interview, a questionnaire was made. The interview and the researcher-made questionnaire were used to collect data. The statistical population included the related people and the practitioners involved in medical errors in Tehran University of medical Sciences (TUMS) hospitals. The sample consisted of 252 employees who were non-randomly selected from those hospitals. Once the affecting factors were determined, the data were analyzed through factor analysis technique. The gathered data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Finally, the research model was presented.

 Results: The selected individuals pointed out 9 factors controlling the medical errors: culture, factors associated with patients, factors related to providers, factors associated with errors, structural factors, role of disclosure, error registration, individual factors related to reporting, and organizational factors related to reporting. The 9 factors are the subdivisions of three main factors which account for 57/46% of the total variance of data. The most decisive power is related to disclosure 0.737 and the least (0.053) pertains to structure.

 Conclusion: Discloser of medical errors and their registration are factors which are effective and essential in controlling medical errors in TUMS hospitals.

 Background and Aim: Managers are always looking for better ways to improve productivity of staff. The aim of this study was to introduce a model based on work and time measurement for Staff Management based on performance in hospital.

 Materials and Methods: This descriptive - practical study was conducted in ten steps for a medical documents expert’s in a general hospital. The main activities of employees were determined via interview and direct observation. Then expected time, tolerances, final coefficient and work units for each activity were calculated. Finally, the total working units were calculated. 

 Results: Implementation of introduced model for a medical documents expert’s in a general hospital showed that the total work units which the staff was obliged to do in one month was 918 units and the remaining (1160-918) was the extra units.

 Conclusion: Using appropriate models for the performance management of hospital staff workloads, can help to improve the hospital productivity and staff satisfaction.

 Background and Aim: Scientific journals are the most major tools in disseminating research findings. With the increasing number and price of scientific journals, libraries need to select journals. Citation analysis is a practical method in identifying the best titles to be subscribed. This study was to identify core journals in the field of dentistry using citation analysis.

 Materials and Methods: Two hundered and seventy six documents including dentistry theses (241 titles) and faculty papers (35 titles) indexed in Science Citation Index (SCIE) were selected and their references were extracted and evaluated using citation analysis methods. The distribution frequency of journals confirmed the Bradford’s Law of Scattering representing core dentistry journals.

 Results: Eleven thousand twenty three references were totally extracted. Average reference per theses and papers was 39/25 and 44/74, respectively. English journals and books were the most frequent referred documents having 95% of total references approximately. The most updated references were in English dated during 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. Using the Bradford’s Law, five journals were introduced as core dentistry journals.

 Conclusion: Selecting and subscribing core journals leads into cost-effectiveness in libraries and plays an important role in meeting user’s needs. While having many challenges in accessing scientific resources, core journals selection and subscription is an intelligent action resulting in effective use of financial resources. 

 Background and Aim: Information literacy is a set of skills required to identify rightful information resources and access to them. These skills are empowering goal oriented use of information resources. This study aimed to determine the ability rate of information literacy among health services administration students in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences based on SCONUL seven pillars model.  

 Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted using a questionnaire developed based on SCONUL information literacy seven pillars model. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through content analysis and coefficient of Chronbach’s alpha was 0.93. The study population included students of health services administration in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The sample size included 40 cases collected randomly. Data analyzed through SPSS descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistical tests.

 Results: The mean score for the studied components of information literacy abilities among the study population was 0.5±0.43. Information Literacy score among freshmen was significantly different from other students (P<0.03). Students who passed Computer Basics and Research Methodology educational courses showed significant differences from other students in the information management (P<0.01).

 Conclusion: Given the increasing development in information technology, the need to develop information literacy skills is considerable especially among those who are going to be engaged in the health sector. Although studied students’ information literacy estimated relatively well, it seems necessary to take measures to improve their information literacy in all components.

 Background and Aim: In order to better design an electronic health record system in the country, determining standardized data elements for creating an integrated information system is important. In this study, the minimum data set of radiology reporting system is determined.

 Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 13 radiologists, 3 anesthesiologists, 3 general practitioners and 3 insurance experts working in the Imaging Center of Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran were chosen. The research tool was a questionnaire having 11 parts. Content validity and test-retest method were used to measure the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, respectively. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software.

 Results: The highest means reported were radiologists' written explanations and suggestions (9.6), image interpretation (9.5), the name of contrast material (9.4), the name of imaging procedure (9.3) type and date of previous measures (9.1), and the final diagnosis (9) and the lowest averages belonged to referring physician's address (4.8), relationship between patients and the primary individual insured (4.3), and religion (2.2).

 Conclusion: In an electronic health record system, due to the importance of radiology reports for the diagnosis and future management of a patient's clinical problems, it is necessary to pay attention to the minimum set of data related to these reports such as administrative, insurance, patient identity, and clinical data, and the results of radiological examinations for exchanging with electronic health record system.

 Background and Aim: The quality of health record depends on the quality of its content and proper documentation. Minimum data set makes a standard method for collecting key data elements that make them easy to understand and enable comparison. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum data set for Iranian athletes’ health records.

 Materials and Methods: This study is an applied research of a descriptive - comparative type which was carried out in 2013. By using internal and external forms of documentation, a checklist was created that included data elements of athletes health record and was subjected to debate in Delphi method by experts in the field of sports medicine and health information management.

 Results: From 97 elements which were subjected to discussion, 85 elements by more than 75 percent of the participants (as the main elements) and 12 elements by 50 to 75 percent of the participants (as the proposed elements) were agreed upon. In about 97 elements of the case, there was no significant difference between responses of alumni groups of sport pathology and sports medicine specialists with medical record, medical informatics and information management professionals.

 Conclusion: Minimum data set of Iranian athletes’ health record with four information categories including demographic information, health history, assessment and treatment plan was presented. The proposed model is available for manual and electronic medical records.

 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.

 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. 

  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.

 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.

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.

 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.

 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.

 Background and Aim: Personal Information Management (PIM) is a novel approach comprising three interactive parts of information resources, dimensions, and tools. The main aim of this study was to determine the degree of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) management and information science students’ familiarity with PIM process.

 Materials and Methods: The present work is a qualitative-applied study and the population includes 145 TUMS management and medical information students in 2012. The subjects were randomly selected and the data were finally obtained from 73 persons through semi-structured interviews. The data collection tool was a questionnaire with 10 open-ended questions classified based on the conceptual framework  of interviews. The questions were about how to acquire, organize, maintain, and retrieve information. To analyse the interviews, the qualititative data analysis software Nvivo 8 was employed.  

 Results: According to the obtained results, 51% (37 persons) of interviewed persons have applied methods and tools in order to organize and maintain information and have had exclusive methods to retrieve information. The most frequent worries were the information storage 49% (35 persons) and acquiring information 29% (21 persons).

 Conclusion: It is noteworthy to say that the PIM approach is not very popular among university students, and many of them acquire, maintain, and organize their personal information inappropriately in spite of their need for the method. Therefore, educating the students and promoting their performance can result in the improvement of main PIM-related problems.

 Background and Aim: Organization and utilization of non-book materials is an essential issue therefore, this study aims to evaluate the organization of non-book materials in central libraries of selected universities of Tehran.

 Materials and Methods: The present survey has been conducted as a cross-sectional, descriptive study in 2012. The population consisted of central libraries of selected universities of Tehran. Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire divided into three sections. The validity of the questionnaire was checked by the professionals of the field and its reliability turned out to be 88% using Cronbach&#39;s alpha test. Data analysis was performed with SPSS and excel. The findings were presented using descriptive and analytic statistics.

 Results: Most of non-book cataloged and indexed materials are theses and compact discs (CDs). Most of the libraries of this study use the Library of Congress Classification System for organizing their materials, and all of them (100%) apply Anglo-American rules for cataloging. Regarding the staff of libraries, 40 (95%) had academic degrees in library studies. As to their familiarity with OPEC, 4 libraries ( 80%) were familiar with Library of Congress (LC) and 3 ( 60%) were familiar with National Library of Iran. NOSA software was used in 4 ( 80%) libraries , and Windows operating system in all (100%).

  Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the organization of non-book materials in these libraries is not as desired.

 Background and Aim: The importance of social networking sites (SNSs) is evident as a tool for research team working and for enabling researchers to share the results and experiences. The present study aims to identify the features of SRNs for facilitating research practices from the perspective of medical sciences researchers and to study the reasons why they use these networks.

 Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative research that employed content analysis approach. The participants were 10 medical researchers who were active in ResearchGATE, and were selected through purposeful sampling. The selection criterion was their scores in ResearchGATE (RG). RG scores are allotted based on publications, questions, answers and followers.

 The data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, and then were thematized and presented in the form of a list the list of SRNs' most important features for the field of medical sciences.

 Results: The findings of data analysis revealed eight features for SRN's: presenting themselves and identifying other researchers, communicating and collaborating with other researchers, sharing information, finding information, managing resources and citations, keeping the researcher up to date, rating, and setting the network.

  Conclusion: Due to the importance and role of SRNs in communication and collaboration between researchers and their scientific production management, introduction of features identified in this study can enhance these SNSs' efficiency and effectiveness. Information science professionals can use the findings of this research to design educational workshops on "Familiarity with the features of SNSs for researchers" as a new information service in libraries.

Background and Aim: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in Brassica species vegetables, exhibits antitumor effects. It has been shown that I3C induces apoptosis in various cell types through inactivation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- k B) pathway. Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, is widely used in the treatment of hematological malignancies, induce apoptosis in tumor cells via DNA damage and activation of p53. However, NF- k B pathway that activated by anthracyclines as a part of DNA damage response can induce chemo resistance. In this study the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin in combination with NF- k B inhibitor I3C was assessed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Materials and Methods: Human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, NALM-6 cells, were preincubated with various concentrations of I3C for1 hour and then treated with 125nM doxorubicin at 37 ° C for 24 hours. Cellular DNA content assay and Annexin V-FITC staining were performed by flowcytometry for evaluation of apoptosis.

Results: DNA histogram analysis of NALM-6 cells indicates that combination of I3C with doxorubicin synergistically escalated the percentages of sub-G1 population cells (apoptotic cells) as compared to doxorubicin-only treated group. Annexin V-FITC staining showed that cotreatment of NALM-6 cells with I3C and doxorubicin increased the proportion of Annexin-V positive cells (early apoptotic cells) in comparison with the doxorubicin treated cells.

Conclusion: The results of cell culture treatments and cell death analysis by flowcytometry suggest that I3C synergistically potentiates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human leukemia NALM-6 cells.