Showing 8 results for Abbasi
Shohreh Shahmahmoodi, Seyed Mohsen Zahraei, Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, Taha Mousavi, Masoud Hosseini, Marjan Ostovar Esfandabadi, Mahmood Mahmoodi, Hamideh Tabatabaie, Maryam Yousefi, Yaghoob Mollaie Kandalousi, Sahar Abbasi, Rakhshandeh Nategh,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7 2012)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Iran National Polio Laboratory (NPL) is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Laboratories Network. NPL receives stool specimens from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases from all the provinces throughout Iran for poliovirus detection and identification. Furthermore, the NPL also detects non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) in these specimens. Recently, NPEVs have come to be believed to be one of the most important causes of AFP following wild poliovirus. This paper reports the prevalence of different types of NPEVs isolated from the specimens of AFP cases between 1995 and 2000.
Materials and Methods: Stool collection, virus detection and serotype identification were performed according to the WHO standard procedures.
Results: A total of 2180 stool specimens from AFP cases were received at the National Polio Laboratory. Coxsackie B viruse and echoviruses 6, 11, 7 and 13 had the highest frequency, identified in 23.7%, 14.4%, 12.7%, 11% and 10.2% of the NPEVs isolated from AFP cases, respectively. Four cases of echovirus 20 were identified, in 2 cases the patiets having died and in one the patient having been afflicted with residual paralysis. There have been no reports of death or residual paralysis (paralysis continuing after 60 days) due to echoviruse 20.
Conclusion: Considering the upward trend of AFP cases in Iran, even after wild poliovirus eradication, studies are needed to determine the frequency and type identification of NPEVs and the relationship between NPEVs and residual paralysis in the post-eradication era (2000 onwards).
Mohsen Roshanpajouh, Roksana Mirkazemi, Mehrdad Ehterami, Houman Narenjiha, Hossein Malek Afzali, Hamidreza Sarrami, Majid Rezazadeh, Fatemeh Abbasi, Saeid Noroozi,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Drug abuse is a long-standing social and public health problem in Iran. Access to accurate, reliable and up-to-date data related to drug use is essential for planning and policy-making for prevention of, treatment of, and harm reduction related to, drug abuse. The purpose of this study was to access accurate data regarding drug abuse prevalence and substance use in Tehran Province population.
Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 6024 individuals aged 15-64 years residing in Tehran Province. Data on demographic characteristics and drug use during the previous week, month and year and the whole lifetime were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire.
Results: A total of 5646 individuals participated in the study. The lifelong prevalence of cigarette-smoking, hookah-smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use were 21.9%, 26.8%, 12.1% and 7.3%, respectively. The corresponding proportions during the previous week were 12.9%, 10.5%, 1.8% and 2.2%.
Conclusion: The prevalence of cigarette-smoking, hookah-smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use is high in Tehran Province. The prevalence of lifelong cigarette and hookah smoking and alcohol consumption is higher, while that of drug use is lower, than the respective national averages.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahdieh Heydari, Sajjad Ramandi, Mahya Abbasi,
Volume 18, Issue 4 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The health system financing is the process of collecting, pooling and managing financial resources and purchasing healthcare services. Health financing plays an important role in achieving the health system goals and objectives specially universal health coverage. The aim of this study was to strategically analyze the Iranian health financing system and recommend strategies to strengthen it.
Materials and Methods: Using the scoping review method, all published studies about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Iranian health financing system were searched in eight databases including "PubMed", "Scopus", "Science Direct", "Embase", "ProQuest", "SID" and "Magiran", as well as the "National Database of Medical Science Theses" and two search engines, namely, "Google" and "Google scholar". Finally, 29 studies were selected and analyzed using the framework analysis method and MAXQDA software.
Results: Extended health insurance coverage, reduced out-of-pocket payments following the national health transformation plan, and increased healthcare tariffs were the strengths of the Iranian health financing system. On the other hand, regressive financing, high out-of-pocket payments and increased number of health insurance companies were the weaknesses of Iran’s health financing system. Political sanctions, financial crises and increased healthcare demands were the threats, while supportive laws, the NGO’s financial support, increased number of health care organizations and modern technologies were among the important opportunities for the Iranian health financing system. Increasing the health system financial resources through prepayments, structural and policy unification of health insurance system, health service tariff reform and enhancing health system efficiency and healthcare services quality are essential to strengthen the Iranian health financing system.
Conclusion: The Iranian health financing system is not resilient and faces several challenges. The health system policy-makers and senior managers should adopt the recommended strategies to strengthen the national health financing system.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahdiyeh Heydari, Mahya Abbasi, Mehdi Abbasi,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (6-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The realist review has been introduced to review and synthesize the evidence related to the implementation of complex healthcare interventions. This method interprets the results of an intervention by explaining the causal relationships between the intervention and the results. This study aimed to explain the methodology of realist review in the health system.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review. The following databases were used to find articles using appropriate search strategies and relevant key words: Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase electronic databases, as well as Google Scholar and Google search engines. Finally 49 articles were selected (in the period between January 1990 and December 2020) for review.
Results: The realist review is a theory-based approach to synthesize evidence related to the complex interventions, explaining the reasons for the successes or failures of interventions based on the causal relationships between the interventions, contexts, mechanisms and outcomes. A protocol was introduced to conduct a realist review composed of three phases ─ explaining, development and correcting the intervention program theory ─ and including seven steps of determining research questions; explaining the initial program theory; developing search strategies; collecting, evaluating and selecting evidence; synthesizing evidence; modifying the initial theory; and making suggestions. In addition, the structure of a realist review article was described and a checklist for evaluation of a realist review study was introduced.
Conclusion: The realist review is a suitable method for reviewing the complex health system interventions, explaining how an intervention relates to the results obtained. A realist review explains how, under what conditions and for whom a health and therapeutic intervention works.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Rahim Khodayari, Mehdi Abbasi, Fereshte Karimi,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The health financing system is the process of collecting, pooling and managing financial resources to purchase health services. Sustainable financing of the Iranian health system is crucial for achieving universal health coverage. The purpose of this study was to identify strategies for sustainable financing of the Iranian health system.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review in 2020. The following databases and search engines were searched systematically between 21.03.2002 and 21.09.2020 to find studies related to sustainable financing strategies for the Iranian health system: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase, Magiran, Iranmedex and SID databases, and two search engines; i.e., "Google" and "Google scholar”. Finally, 47 studies were selected and analyzed using the MAXQDA software and the framework analysis method.
Results: A total of 40 strategies were identified for strengthening the sustainability of Iran's health financing system, which were grouped into three categories: collecting funds, pooling funds and purchasing health services. The most frequently cited strategies for sustainable financing of the Iranian health system were the following: increasing the health share of gross domestics product, expanding tax revenues, pre-payment methods of health financing, strengthening public-private partnership, increasing the efficiency of the health system, reducing health system costs, consolidating insurance funds, eliminating insurance overlaps, value-based health service tariffs, optimizing health services support packages, and fixed payment methods based on the performance of the health service providers.
Conclusion: The Iran's health financing system must be strengthened in such a way as to make it possible to collect, pool and manage sufficient financial resources to be used to purchase health services for the people to ultimately ensure universal health coverage leading to the promotion of the public’s health.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Hosein Dargahi, Mahdi Abbasi, Mina Mirzaeianrad,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Occupational injuries are an important human resource management challenge with negative effects on employees and organizations. A knowledge of the prevalence of occupational injuries is the first step in eliminating or reducing them. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occupational injuries among financial employees of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted in 2019 in 13 hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences using a valid questionnaire to gather data. A total of 162 questionnaires were randomly distributed among the financial staff of the hospitals, but only 147 subjects completed the questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software.
Result: Analysis of the data showed that 52.6% and 50.2% of the financial staff of the hospitals were suffering from physical and mental occupational injuries, respectively. Most of the occupational physical injuries were related to headache, neck pain, back pain and visual impairment, and most of the occupational psychiatric injuries were stress and anxiety. Female and single employees experienced significantly more occupational injuries. Working in a sitting position for a long time, lack of proper equipment operation, lack of safety and health facilities, insufficient training and carelessness of staff were the causes of musculoskeletal injuries.
Conclusion: About half of the hospital financial staff were found to suffer from occupational injuries. Occupational injuries had had direct and indirect costs for the employees and the hospitals. Hospital managers should plan and implement measures to eliminate or reduce occupational injuries at an individual, group, and organizational level.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahya Abbasi, Mahdieyh Heydari,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The health financing system is "the process of collecting, pooling and managing financial resources and purchasing healthcare services”. Iran's health financing system is facing challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Iranian health financing system.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study retrospectively evaluated the health financing system of Iran between 2000 and 2019 using archival data. Data were collected from the World Bank website and analyzed using the Excel software.
Results: Iran's health expenditure per capita increased by 3.7% annually between 2000 and 2019 and reached $868 (purchasing power parity) in 2019. Iran's total health expenditure increased from $32 billion in 2000 to $72 billion (purchasing power parity) in 2019 (5.9% annual increase). Iran accounted for about 0.6% of the world total health expenditure in 2019. In that year about 6.7% of the country's gross domestic product was spent on health, the global average being 9.8%, while the general government health expenditure (% of the then current health expenditure) in Iran and the world were 49.5% and 59.8%, respectively. Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of the then current health expenditure) decreased in the last decade in Iran, reaching 39.5% in 2019, compared to 18% worldwide.
Conclusion: Iran’s health system costs are increasing at a faster rate than the growth of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country’s health expenditure (% of GDP) and, as a result, the general government health expenditure (% of general government expenditures) has decreased and out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditures) has increased. Therefore, reforms should be implemented to strengthen the country's health financing system.
Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad, Mahya Abbasi, Mahdi Abbasi, Mahdieh Heidari,
Volume 20, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Health system financing is the process of collecting, pooling, and allocating financial resources to maintain, restore or promote the health of the people. Developing countries face many challenges in mobilizing, managing and allocating health financial resources. The aim of this study was to identify sustainable financing methods in developing countries.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using the scoping review. All the studies related to health system financing methods in developing countries were searched in the English electronic databases (i.e., Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of science), Persian electronic databases (i.e., Magiran, Iranmedex, and SID) and Google Scholar and Google search engines using appropriate keywords. Finally, 94 suitable documents were selected and analyzed using the framework analysis method and MAXQDA software.
Results: Forty-two methods were identified to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the health financing system in developing countries; these methods were grouped into three categories: collection and management of financial resources, pooling of financial resources and purchasing of health services. The most frequently used solutions to strengthen the sustainability of the health financing system in developing countries were as follows: expanding social health insurance plans, integrating multiple health insurance plans, strengthening public-private partnerships, establishing a robust referral system, imposing taxes on harmful commodities, using perspective fixed payment methods, defining needs-based health service packages, promoting donors’ contributions, and reforming health service tariffs.
Conclusion: The health financing system in developing countries should be strengthened. The financial reforms of the health system should be accompanied by reforms in providing health services to make possible efficient and effective results. Health policymakers and senior managers should strengthen the governance of the health financing system at the macro level. In addition, healthcare managers should increase the efficiency and reduce resource wastage by strengthening budget capacity and financial management at the micro level.
