Trends in outpatient cataract surgery in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2006–2010

This study aimed to determine the trends in outpatient cataract surgery and its determinants in the Islamic Republic of Iran between 2006 and 2010. In this cross-sectional study, 106 cataract surgery centres were selected in all provinces by multistage randomized cluster sampling. The number of centres in each province was determined from the number of cataract operations and the number of patient charts examined in each centre was proportionate to the number of cataract operations in that centre. The prevalence of outpatient surgery increased from 46.0% [95% CI, 35.3-56.8] in 2006 to 51.4% [95% CI, 40.2-62.7] in 2010 [P = 0.549]. Patients stayed in hospital for more than one night after 10.5% [95% CI, 6.9-14.1] of operations. Use of phacoemulsification and topical anaesthesia increased the prevalence of outpatient surgery and decreased intraoperative complications. Although outpatient cataract surgery increased by 11.7%, use of methods such as phacoemulsification is not widespread, and more attention should be paid to the barriers to outpatient cataract surgery in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Contributions of public and private sectors to the Iranian cataract surgery output

This study determined trends in the contributions of the public and private sectors to the cataract surgery output in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Data about cataract surgeries performed at surgical centres throughout the nation were extracted from patient charts for a 5-year period from 2006 to 2010. Of the total 516 273 surgeries performed in 2010, more were done in public sector centres [61.7%] than private ones [38.3%]. The total number of surgeries increased by 59.1% between 2006 and 2010. Analysis of the relative contributions of the public and private sectors showed a 41.0% increase in surgeries in public centres and 100.5% in private centres over the 5-year period. Thus the rate of growth of cataract surgery in the private sector was 2.7 times greater than that in the public sector. Despite a smaller contribution to the total number of cataract surgeries, the private sector has experienced a substantial rate of growth

[Ranking of hospital information systems based on requirements of Iran in 2013]

Introduction: Hospital information system is comprehensive software to integrate patient information in order to send and exchange information between departments and other medical centers. Since according to the users' needs, some changes such as modifications, improvements or conformity to changes in the organization are applied and also some requirements and performance characteristics are added in these systems, they should be constantly assessed and ranked. The aim of this research is to rank hospital information systems

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2013. Research population was hospital information systems of the country. The sample size was 16 companies. Data were collected from check lists which included information related to research purposes, and its validity was confirmed by experts. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software

Results: In the overall rating of hospital information systems, "Rayavran" with 72.7% ranked the highest and "BuAli designers" with 47.1% ranked the lowest. In rating functional requirements, only three softwares were efficient. Most of these systems were efficient regarding technical requirements and the ability to use the capabilities of the vendor of the systems, and most hospital information systems were inefficient in improving the quality of patient care

Conclusion: In general, hospital information systems in Iran had a moderate performance regarding the studied requirements and this requires system managers and designers` consideration and attention

[ rate of cataract surgery in Khorasan Razavi, 2006-2010]

To determine the trend of the cataract surgical rate in Khorasan Razavi Province between 2006 and 2010. Five centers were randomly selected from the cataract surgery centers of Khorasan Razavi Province. Using the definition of more than 3000 cataract surgeries per year for a major center, 3 centers were major and 2 were minor. One week of each season was randomly selected for each center and the number of cataract surgeries in that particular week was calculated. A total of 20 weeks for each center were selected. Finally, a percentage of the records, proportionate to the number of surgeries per week, were thoroughly analyzed. The total number of cataract surgeries was estimated 21388, 22750, 23888, 28063, and 30100 from 2007 to 2011, respectively. The cataract surgical rate, considering the population of Khorasan Razavi province, increased linearly from 3782 [95% CI 3732-3833] in 2007 to 5021 [95% CI 4965-5078] in 2011 per 1,000,000 people. In addition, the types of surgeries were intracapsular, extracapsular, phacoemulsification, lensectomy in which were recorded as 0.3%, 15.1%, 84.56%, and 0.1% of the cases, respectively. During the five years of the study, phacoemulsification increased significantly from 74.7% in 2007 to 90.4% in 2011 while the extracapsular method decreased from 14.7% to 9.2% in the same period of time. About 0.87% of the surgeries developed intraoperative complications. This study reported the cataract surgical rate in Khorasan Razavi province exclusively for the first time. The calculated rate was noticeably better than previous reports and was desirable and acceptable according to the WHO standards. However, with regard to the increase in the elderly population of the province, the rate should be even higher to cover all individuals requiring cataract surgery. Therefore, provision of the cataract surgery facilities, especially for the phacoemulsification, and education of this method should receive priority in the health system of this province

[ effect of health education rased on health belief model on mother's participation for neonatal hypothyroidism screening program]

Congenital hypothyroidisrn causes irreversible, irreparable damage and lifelong complications such as mental retardation. Using the Health Belief Model questionnaire, this study aimed to determine the effect of a health education program on mother's participation for neonatal hypothyroidisrn screening program. In the current interventional study, 46 pregnant women from three Health-medicine centers were randomly assigned to an intervention group and 46 pregnant women from three other health centers were assigned to the control group. The Health Belief Model questionnaire assessed perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. For measuring the scientific validity of the designed tool, there was an expert panel, and for reliability we used Cronbach's Alpha. This questionnaire was completed by both groups before educational intervention. The educational intervention consisted of 4 educational sessions, implemented for the intervention group. After the training, the questionnaire was completed again by both groups. Data analyzed with SPPS software using chi-square and ANCOVA. There were statistically significant deferencse between the two groups regarding the perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and cues to action scores after the training sessions [p<0.001]. The difference in mean barrier scores of the two groups was not statistically significant after the training sessions [p=0.16]. Timely referral by mothers for neonatal hypothyroidisrn screening was higher in the intervention group [p<0.001].The study indicated that educational programs based on Health Belief Model assessment are effective in timely participation of mothers for neonatal screening and its use is strongly recommended in screening programs

[Evaluation of parasitic and fungal contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan during 2008-9]

Swimming in indoor public pools may lead to transmission of contagious diseases such as ear problems, foot tinea, conjunctivitis and amoebic meningoencephalitis in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the types of fungal and parasitic contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan. In this cross-sectional study, 200 water samples were collected from surface and depth of four swimming pools of Kashan during 2008-9. Physicochemical parameters such as, temperature, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity of the pools were studied. Samples were tested for the presence of parasitic and fungal contamination by specific mediums. The residual chlorine in 71% of samples was standard. The average pH level was 7.7 and 88% of samples were standard. No parasite and free living amoebae were observed. The prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was 42% in surface and 12% in depth, which was not significant in different swimming pools [P=0.95]. Twelve species of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi were isolated; the highest and the lowest number of species were aspergillus [50%] and fusarium [3.7%], respectively. The residual chlorine in fungal contamination between swimming pools was less than standard [P=0.014]. Although no parasites and free living amoebae were observed in Kashan's swimming pools, the prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was relatively high. Such condition may be attributed to low concentration of residual chlorine, inadequate water treatment and water high temperature