Showing 12 results for Health Information
Iman Tahamtan, Shahram Sedghi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (1-2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Today, one of the challenges of doctors is how they can access medical information as quick as possible. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and Smartphones are such information technologies that can be used to access health information. This study aimed to review the most important uses of Personal Digital Assistants and Smartphones in medicine and in accessing health information.
Materials and Methods: The researchers searched Pubmed, Google Scholar and Scopus to collect relevant articles about the use of PDAs and Smartphones among healthcare professionals. In this search, such terms as Handheld Computer, Smartphone, Personal Digital Assistant, Mobile phone and their synonyms were considered.
Conclusion: With regard to the vast amount of information produced daily, PDAs and Smartphones are useful devices for physicians and medical students because they can easily get the most recent bits of information at the point of care, and improve their medical knowledge through these devices. Utilization of PDAs and Smartphones in Medical Centers will improve the efficiency and quality of health services.
Reza Safdari, Mahtab Karami, Mahboobeh Mirzaee, Azin Rahimi ,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (5-2013)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Decision support systems(DSSs) refer to one of the types of information technology applications that can help clinicians to make right and timely decisions about patients. The aim of this study is to learn more about DSSs and their applications and effects on health care.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, articles which were published between 2000 and 2012, which were available as full texts through databases and search engines -- such as PubMED, EBSCO host research, Google scholar and Yahoo -- and which were also of clinical-trial type were examined besides, certain books in this area were used as primary sources.
Conclusion : The findings show that DSSs were applied in five areas in health care, which had a significant effect on improving the process of care and the performance of providers. These areas are as follows: disease progress management(15.15%), care and treatment(27.27%), medication(27.27%), evaluation(27.27%), and preventation(12.12%). In general, improvement can be seen in three areas: quality of care and patient safety, cost effectiveness, and provider’s level of knowledge.
Mohammadhiwa Abdekhoda , Maryam Ahmadi , Agha Fateme Hossini , Esmail Prikhani , Akram Farhadi ,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (11-2013)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Despite all inherent advantages of information technology in health sector, its implementation still faces many problems. One of the most important barriers is people’s resistance. This study was carried out to survey the factors affecting the acceptance of information technology by Health Information Management (HIM) staff of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) hospitals based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in 2011.
Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive-analytical survey. The population of the study consisted of the HIM staff (363 members) of TUMS hospitals. As the sample, 123 employees were selected. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire the validity and reliability of which were confirmed. The data were collected and analyzed by SPSS software, descriptive statistical methods and Spearman Test.
Results: The results showed that there was a positive direct relationship between perceived ease of use (PEOU) on the one hand and the staff’s attitude and their application of IT on the other hand (R=0.14, P= 0.05 R=0.36, P=0.05). Also, perceived usefulness (PU) had a significant direct effect on the staff’s attitude and their application of IT (R=0.22, P= 0.05 R=0.37, P=0.05).
Conclusion : Perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) are the factors affecting the acceptance of information technology by the HIM staff of TUMS hospitals. Therefore, it is suggested that the above two principles be considered when designing and implementing the IT systems.
Reza Abbasi, Leila Ahmadian, Seyedeh Razieh Farrahi,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (11-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The online social networks as new and widespread sources of information have been able to facilitate the accessibility of people to health information. The aim of this study was to determine the use of online social networks and their role in sharing health information among pregnant women.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Kerman in the winter of 2017. The study participants were the pregnant women referring to 21 gynecologists’ private offices in Kerman city. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of this questionnaire was confirmed by 4 medical informatics and health information management specialists, and its reliability (71%) was estimated with Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics and analytical tests.
Results: In general, 89% of pregnant women used online social networks and more than 80% of them used it daily. Moreover, more than 57% used these networks for the related information about health and pregnancy period care, and almost 68% of pregnant women considered these networks useful.
Conclusion: This study showed the widespread use of online social networks among pregnant women in Kerman city. If accurate and trustworthy information bits were shared in such networks, they could provide an appropriate platform to improve the awareness, knowledge and health literacy of pregnant woman, and facilitate the exchange of information and experience among them.
Leila Nemati-Anaraki, Fatemeh Khazaee, Hasan Ashrafi-Rizi,
Volume 15, Issue 5 (1-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the most important needs of the elderly is information. Public libraries are among the centers that can play an effective role in providing information services year after year. The purpose of this study was to investigate the situation of public libraries affiliated with the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality in the Health Information Report for 2020 in Tehran province.
Materials and Methods: The present study was descriptive-analytical in nature and with applied results. In this study, due to the comprehensiveness of the work, sampling was not done and in other words, the research sample was with the research community. The research community of Tehran Province Public Librarians was affiliated with the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality (87 people). The validity of this questionnaire was confirmed based on the opinions of seven experts in the field of library and medical information. And its reliability was calculated 0.9 through Cronbach’s alpha. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and one-sample t-test.
Results: The situation of resources, tools and technology as well as the services of public libraries affiliated to the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality in providing health information to the elderly are unfavorable and below average (P>0.05). Findings show that services can be provided Health services in public libraries affiliated to the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality for the elderly, respectively, insufficient budget and lack of facilities and equipment for the elderly and lack of up-to-date, lack or reporting of information sources.
Conclusion: According to the results, the situation of public libraries affiliated to the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality in providing health information to the elderly in Tehran province was unfavorable. Due to demographic changes in the coming years, it is necessary for the public libraries of their country to prepare to provide appropriate services to the previous years.
Zahra Otroj, Firoozeh Zare-Farashbandi, Fatemeh Rastegari,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (5-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health information seeking behavior can be influenced by several factors and variables such as personality traits, beliefs, values, tendencies, contextual factors and personal emotions. Health information has a direct relationship with the quality of life of people in society, it can be influential in decisions related to personal and social health and improve people’s performance in this field. This study aimed to determine the relationship between personality types of graduate students of Isfahan University of medical Sciences (IUMS) and their health information seeking behavior based on the Miller model.
Materials and Methods: This was an applied survey study. The study population was all graduate students of IUMS. The sample size was determined using the Morgan table of 297 people. Data collection tools are Neo Five Personality Factor Questionnaire and Miller Information Behavior Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: The results showed that there is an inverse relationship between personality type “Psychotic” and the component of “active search for health information”. Also there is a direct relationship between persons who are “Eager for new experiences” and “conscientiousness” with the component of “active search for health information”. But there is no significant relationship between personality types “extroversion” and “agreeability” with the components of health informing behavior. The studied students are not responsible and conscientious in terms of personality type, they often prefer solitude and are introverted and conservative. But more than half of them are balanced in the dimension of “agreeability”.
Conclusion: This study showed that people who are eager for new experiences and conscientious, search health information actively, but Psychotic persons are not willing to be active in seeking health information This means that the more responsible and conscientious people are, or the more eager they are for new experiences, the more actively they search for health information. Therefore, it is better for health policy makers to plan in such a way that the necessary health information is provided to them interactively based on the personality of the people.
Reza Abbasi, Fatemeh Rangraz Jeddi, Shima Anvari, Reza Khajouei,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (8-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Hospital managers are one of the key decision-makers in the implementation of health information systems. This study aimed to determine the implementation challenges of health information systems based on the hospital managers’ perspective.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2019 on the hospital managers of three provinces (Kerman, Yazd, Sistan and Baluchestan). Data were collected using a self-administrated questionnaire. The face validity of this questionnaire was approved by experts in health informatics and health information management and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (α=96.7%). Data were analyzed using SPSS. To investigate the relationship between the mean of each challenge with demographic variables, Pearson, Independent T-test, and ANOVA tests were used.
Results: In this study, the factors related to ignoring the hospital manager’s needs in system selection (1.333 out of 2 points), hardware purchase cost, insufficient user training to using the system (1.238), inadequate manpower and health informatics specialists (1.19), software purchase cost, insufficient financial resources (1.142), high cost of system launching, the lack of integration and interoperability among information systems, lack of support from health care professionals (1.047), and lack of management experience in choosing the best system (one out of 2) had the highest scores (out of 2 points). Also, personnel training costs to work with the system (-0.092) and Lack of improvement in work processes (-0.047) obtained the lowest scores. Data analysis showed that managers with clinical backgrounds considered financial and human challenges more important than non-clinical managers (P<0.031).
Conclusion: The hospital managers believed that financial, human, technical, managerial, and organizational factors are the most important challenges in implementing health information systems in Iran’s hospitals respectively. The health policy-makers and planners at large and small levels can address many of the challenges before implementing systems by focusing on identified priorities.
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.
Mohamad Jebraeily, Shima Touraj, Farid Khorrami,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (8-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In the health system, reimbursement methods are an important criterion for the allocation of resources and the performance of service providers. The use of diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system reduces the length of stay and additional costs of the patient, prevents unnecessary treatment, increases resource efficiency and transparency of health care services. The development of the DRG system focuses on the accurate documentation of medical records and the correct coding of diagnoses and procedures. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the documentation and coding requirements of medical records in the implementation of a payment system based on diagnosis-related groups in Iran.
Materials and Methods: This research was descriptive-cross-sectional and was conducted in 2022. The data collection tool was a researcher-made checklist, the validity of which was confirmed based on the opinion of experts (health information management health economics) and its reliability was obtained by calculating Cronbach’s alpha (0.83). The research population consisted of 418 medical records in five medical training centers affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences, which were selected through stratified-proportional sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The results of the evaluation of the documentation and coding requirements of medical records for the implementation of the DRG system showed that the demographic/administrative variables including age, sex, type of admission, length of stay, health insurance, and doctor’s expertise were completely recorded. Evaluation of clinical variables also showed that the main diagnosis, main procedure, secondary diagnosis and other procedures were documented in medical records in 98%, 97%, 88% and 75% respectively. Regarding the coding of the main diagnosis and the main procedure, 100%, secondary diagnosis 68% and other procedures 80% have been done.
Conclusion: Considering that some essential clinical variables for the implementation of DRG, especially co-morbidities, complications and other procedures are not recorded separately and completely, therefore it is necessary to define separate information elements in medical records and HIS for accurate recording of these variables and proper interaction between coders and doctors is established to increase the possibility of correct coding. It is also suggested that the DRG system be implemented in our country in a phased and gradual approach so that necessary changes are made in the documentation process and hospital information systems.
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.
Maryam Andalib Kondori, Ahmadreza Varnaseri, Maryam Ghanbari Khoshnood, Seyed Abedin Hoseini Ahangari, Mohammad Karim Saberi, Hamid Bourghi,
Volume 17, Issue 6 (2-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: This research aimed to study the status of providing health information services in public libraries in Tehran, which was conducted based on the views of librarians working in these libraries.
Materials and Methods: The research method was applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive in terms of data collection, which was conducted as a survey. The statistical population was 150 librarians of public libraries in Tehran. The tool for collecting information was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software..
Results: The status of health information resources available in public libraries of Tehran is low and very low in most sources. The level of familiarity of librarians with health and public health issues is %20. The level of familiarity of librarians with selective dissemination of health information services is low and very low with %77.4. The participation rate of librarians in medical information workshops is faced with the non-participation of %70 of librarians. The familiarity of librarians with the services of selective distribution of health information is low and very low. %60 of librarians are not familiar with medical information systems. The percentage of familiarity of librarians with internal medical websites is %60-78 weak. The percentage of familiarity of librarians with foreign international websites in the field of health is average. Librarians consider the main reason for providing selective health information services to improve the level of health literacy in the society. Also, the main obstacle to providing health information dissemination services is the librarian not having enough time to provide services.
Conclusion: The country’s public libraries should consider measures to familiarize librarians with the field of health information and implement policies in this field. Considering the appropriate technical facilities of public libraries in Tehran, it is possible to create and access internal and external health systems and websites. and expanded the sources and documents of librarians’ health information.
Shahnaz Khademizadeh, Bahram Peymannia, Fatemeh Rafieinasab,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The term “information behavior,” with an emphasis on health and hygiene, refers to purposeful actions taken to satisfy informational needs related to health. The objective of the current research is to develop and validate a questionnaire on information behavior, with a focus on health and hygiene information.
Materials and Methods: This study was a quantitative research conducted with a tool design approach. Initially, a questionnaire for measuring this behavior was prepared using instrument design methods. The basis for extracting the factors of the present questionnaire has been argumentation and logical repetition. In other words, the researcher, in line with the background of these factors and their repetition in the sources, used them as influential factors in the questionnaire construction. After confirming the content and structural validity, the modified questionnaire was distributed among 238 patients with multiple sclerosis. The sample selection.
was done using the available sampling method. Then, the data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency of the data was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods with the help of SPSS and AMOS software.
Results: The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated with the opinion of 20 experts in information behavior. The reliability of the health information behavior questionnaire was adequate and satisfactory with the overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.78 and the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the components between 0.71 and 0.94. In order to factor analysis, the sampling adequacy index and the value of Bartlett’s Crowley test were calculated, and all 29 items were statistically significant; which confirms the factorization of the correlation matrix. In the exploratory factor analysis, five factors (avoidance of information), the second factor (need for information), the third factor (exposure to information), the fourth factor (seeking information), and the fifth factor (use of information) were obtained. The indicators of confirmatory factor analysis showed the validity of the proposed structure. The results of the structural equation model test showed that the fit indices were favorable and also indicated the fit of the presented model in the MS patient population.
Conclusion: The obtained results demonstrated that health information behavior in this questionnaire encompasses five factors: information needs, information-seeking behavior, information avoidance, information use, and information confrontation, which were confirmed. The designed scale for assessing health information behavior in the Iranian community has been evaluated and is recommended for use in measuring health information behavior effectively.