[Effective factors on utilization and access to health care: a population-based study in Kerman]

Introduction: reciving and using health care services is called utilization and access to services refers to the opportunity and the ability to use them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of utilization and access to health care disparities and factors affecting them

Methods: in this cross-sectional study, Quota sampling method was used. To evaluate the health care services used by families and their relationship with Predisposing variables, Chi-square test and Pearson cross-tabulations were used using Excel and Stata

Results: according to the findings important variables such as Household economic status, insurance, head of household education; ages over 65 and less than 12 years had key roles in the use of services. Concentration indices for out-patient and in-patient services were -0.38 and -0.435, respectively

Conclusion: there are some predisposing variable leading to inequality in use of health services which could be reduced the improvement of socio-economic variables

[Cost-benefit analysis of in-patient wards of Qods teaching hospital in Qazvin]

Application of financial analysis in hospitals for optimization and correct planning is of particular importance. To determine the cost-benefit status of in-patient wards of Qods Children Hospital affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2006. Allocation of cost to in-patient wards was accomplished based on Activity Based Costing [ABC] method and the income for individual wards was calculated through the counting of patients' files. The data were collected using information sheets specifically designed to cover necessary parameters. Bed-occupation rate was 63 percent. Personnel and non-personnel costs were 71% and 29% of total hospital costs, respectively. While the surgery ward earned 1,388,519 Rials per patient per day, the pediatric ward 1, pediatric ward 2, neonatal ward, and ICU ward were found to have a loss of 169806, 61249, 308495, and 901503 Rials per patient per day, respectively. Regarding the cost-benefit pattern demonstrated in our study, the hospital managers and decision makers must focus more seriously on lowering the waste operational costs, detecting causes of non optimization efficiency variance, and enhancing the activity capacity

[Estimating cost-function at hospitals of Qazvin university of medical sciences [2001-2005]]

Hospitals like other economic firms should practice the economic analysis scheme to improve their productivity and efficiency. To estimate the cost-function of hospitals affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences during the period of 2001-2005. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at 4 university hospitals. The data were initially collected through information forms followed by statistical analysis using SPSS. The cost elasticity of overall expense to labor price, capital rate and production was 0.56, 0.34 and 0.28, respectively. Out of the overall operatic costs, annual fixed cost was 78% and annual variable cost 22%. Personnel and non-personnel costs were 64% and 36% of overall operatic costs, respectively. In a cost-behavior approach, the hospitals under study were demonstrated to have increasing return to scale, yet the average and marginal costs of production could be decreased by developing production quantity and also selection of optimal capacity

[Unit-cost of financial cost centers in Shohada-ye-Haft-e Tir hospital]

Hospitals as economic firms must use costing and cost analysis methods for optimization. To determine the unit-cost of financial cost centers and calculating non-optimal price-variance rate in Shohada-ye-Haft-e-Tir hospital in 1381. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 1382. Information sheets were used to collect data. Unit-cost of centers was determined by activity-based cost method. Unit-cost of centers for ICU, CCU, neurocerebral ward, general surgery, orthopedic ward and internal therapeutic department were calculated as 549000, 354000, 180000, 150000, 200000 and 120000 Rials, respectively. Comparing the findings with predicted tariffs, non-optimal variances were observed. Based on data obtained from current study, administrations are suggested to attempt in identifying the elements effective on unit-cost increase. Simultaneously, application of correct economic methods in calculating of tariffs is necessary

[Estimation of production function in hospitals of Qazvin university of medical sciences [1998-2004]]

Implementation of economical analyses for optimal allocation and effective utilization of hospital resources is of prime importance. To estimate the production function of hospitals affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences during 1998-2004. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 4 university hospitals. The data were collected using information forms and further analyzed by SPSS software and regression method. Cobb-Douglas was the method of choice for production function in present study. The results indicated that the production elasticity of physicians, nurses, active beds and other personnel-associated factors were 0.55, 0.29, 0.81 and 0.73, respectively. Also, the marginal product rate of physicians, nurses, active beds and other personnel-associated factors were 114, 38.6, 54 and 37 patient admissions, respectively. The production function coefficient in target hospitals was 1.28 with an obvious economy of scale shown in our study. All production factors were in the economic region of production. Hence, increasing production factors except for physicians to boost total product and also decreasing product cost is recommended

Performance of production factors in general hospitals affiliated to Iran university of medical sciences

For the purpose of optimal utilization and boosting the productivity of resources, hospitals as economic firms must use economic analysis. Assessing the performance of production factors in general hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences [1991-2001]. This was a cross-descriptive study carried out in 2003. Information sheets were used to gather data, which were further analyzed using Eviews software and SuR statistical test. Finding: Production elasticity of physicians, nurses, active beds, and paramedical personnel were 0.57, 0.33, 0.24, and -0.07, respectively. Arerage length of stay and subjective variables had an effect rate of -0.188 and 0.47 on hospitals' production, respectively. All production factors showed positive values of marginal product except for paramedical personnel and there was increasing return to scale in target hospitals. All production factors were in economic region of production and had optimal performance except for paramedical forces. Thus, in order to boost the total product, an increase of all factors except the paramedical personnel, is recommended