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A Systematic Review Of Decision Support Systems: Effects On Health Care
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.


Educational Needs Assessment of Health Information Technology Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hospitals in Western Iran
Taleb Khodaveisi, Hamid Bouraghi, Tooba Mehrabi, Javad Faradmal, Mahdiye Shojaei Baghini, Ali Mohammadpour,
Volume 18, Issue 5 (11-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Identifying the educational needs of health information technology staff is essential before implementing any continuous education programs. This comprehensive study investigates these needs among health information technology personnel working in hospitals in the Hamadan province, considering both the general and specialized aspects of the field.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across 11 hospitals affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The study population comprised staff from the reception, medical records, statistics, and coding departments. Data were gathered using a validated and reliable standardized questionnaire. Collection methods included both in-person and remote approaches. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, with results reported through descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically utilizing the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: The results of this study showed that among the generally accepted needs, items such as information technology (96.7%), legal aspects of medical records (87.6%), and communication skills (76.7%) had the highest percentage. Additionally, educational needs varied across different units: Coding unit staff required more training in the principles of diagnosis documentation (92.9%), familiarity with the coding guidelines for causes of death (85.7%), and familiarity with the coding guidelines for procedures (85.7%), statistics unit staff needed training in statistical software, and reception and medical records staff required education on relevant regulations. There was also a significant correlation between educational needs and certain individual characteristics such as work experience, education level, gender, and field of study.
Conclusion: The study results indicate that designing effective educational programs for health information technology staff requires consideration of individual characteristics, such as gender, work experience, and education level. Additionally, the training should be continuous, tailored to the distinct needs of each group, and delivered at appropriate intervals.

Assessment of Hospital Information System’s Compliance with Physical and Technical Safeguards for Health Data: A Study at Birjand University of Medical Sciences in 2024
Ahmad Negahban, Azam Salehzadeh, Razieh Farrahi, Alireza Nourozi, Sina Tavakoli,
Volume 19, Issue 6 (3-2026)
Abstract
Background and Aim: With the digitalization of healthcare, hospital information systems handle vast amounts of sensitive data, making their protection crucial. This study aimed to assess the compliance of these systems in hospitals affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences with the physical and technical safeguard standards of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 2024.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 15 hospitals affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The study population consisted of Information Technology (IT) unit managers, who were selected using a census method (15 individuals). The research instrument was a researcher-developed checklist consisting of 56 items based on the physical and technical standards of HIPAA. The face validity of the checklist was confirmed by five experts in Health Information Management, Medical Informatics, and Health Policy, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.84. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.
Results: A total of 15 information technology managers (14 men and 1 woman) from 15 hospitals, including 8 teaching and 7 non-teaching hospitals, participated in the study. The findings showed that the hospital information systems of Birjand University of Medical Sciences complied with the HIPAA physical and technical safeguard standards at rates of 81.7% and 86.7%, respectively. In the domain of physical safeguards, the workstation security standard demonstrated the highest level of compliance, with a mean score of 89.3%. Full compliance (100%) was observed for certain indicators, including emergency access procedures for facilities and physical access control procedures. In contrast, the lowest compliance in this domain was related to the device and media controls standard, with a mean score of 74.9%, particularly in the identification and tracking of hardware and electronic media. In the domain of technical safeguards, the overall mean compliance rate was 86.7%. Among these standards, person or entity authentication achieved the highest level of compliance, with all hospitals demonstrating full compliance (100%). In addition, access control (93.3%), audit controls (86.7%), and transmission security (85.3%) were all at desirable levels. However, the lowest compliance was observed for the integrity standard (50%), highlighting the need to strengthen technical infrastructure and implement more advanced electronic mechanisms to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
Conclusion: Although the overall level of compliance in the hospitals under study is satisfactory, significant gaps remain, particularly in device and media control and data integrity. These deficiencies may lead to breaches of patient privacy and undermine public trust in the healthcare system. It is recommended that senior hospital managers and health policymakers address these deficiencies by developing and implementing clear internal guidelines, investing in appropriate supportive technologies, and conducting continuous, targeted training programs for all personnel. In addition, periodic compliance monitoring is essential to ensure continuous improvement.

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