Impact of addiction to internet on a number of psychiatric symptoms in students of Isfahan Universities, Iran, 2010

This study aimed to investigate the impact of internet addiction on some psychiatric symptoms among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 students selected via quota sampling from universities in Isfahan, Iran. Participants completed demographic questionnaire, Young Diagnostic Questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test and Symptom Checklist 90 Revision [SCL 90 R]. Finally, the means of psychiatric symptoms of internet addicted and non addicted subjects were compared. Also, t test and multivariate analysis of covariance were used through SPSS16 software for data analysis. The mean +/- standard deviation [SD] of psychiatric symptoms such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, aggression [hostility], phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism in the addicted group were 11.27 +/- 6.66, 14.05 +/- 7.91, 10.5 +/- 6.20, 15.61 +/- 8.88, 10.77 +/- 5.52, 6.77 +/- 4.88, 6.05 +/- 4.47, 7.61 +/- 4.28, and 9.66 +/- 6.87, respectively, and in the non addicted group were 6.99 +/- 6.42, 7.49 +/- 5.23, 5.46 +/- 4.95, 9.27 +/- 7.92, 6.35 +/- 6.69, 3.57 +/- 3.35, 2.41 +/- 2.79, 5.47 +/- 4.1, and 5.29 +/- 4.95, respectively. There were significant differences between the means of psychiatric symptoms in all SCL 90 R subscales and Global Severity Index, Positive Symptom Distress Index, Positive Symptom Total in the addicted and non addicted individuals [P<0.05]. Also, internet addiction [with controlling sex variable] seemed to affect psychiatric symptoms. Psychiatrists and psychologists involved in the field of mental health need to be well informed about mental problems due to internet addiction, such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and job and educational dissatisfaction

Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views

Behavioral science experts believe that all entities capable of stimulating a person can be addictive; and whenever a habit changes into an obligation, it can be considered as an addiction. Researchers also believe that there are a number of similarities as well as some differences between drug addiction and behavioral addiction diagnostic symptoms. The purpose of this study is to consider different approaches in this field. This is a descriptive research using content analysis method. First, differences and similarities of various perspectives on addiction and addiction behavior in different substances were obtained, thereafter, the data was coded and categorized, subjects were discussed and major issues were extracted. Behavioral addiction such as internet addiction is similar to drug addiction except that in the former, the individual is not addicted to a substance but the behavior or the feeling brought about by the relevant action. In addition, the physical signs of drug addiction, are absent in behavioral addiction. Others have stated that behaviorally addicted individuals have certain symptoms and will undergo the same consequences brought about by addiction to alcohol and drugs as well as other obsessive behaviors. Similar to substance abuse prevention, programs aimed at addicted individuals and specialized training can educate adolescents about the warning signs of online addiction, in order to assist the early detection of this disorder. For prevention of behavioral addiction [such as internet addiction] authorities, cultural institutions and parents should monitor the use of internet and teach to the adolescent and children, the useful and appropriate methods of internet use

[Statistical process control of medical record in Gharazi Hospital]

Utilization of information system in management is necessary. Statistical Process Control [SPC] is one of suggested tools in quality management system. In this study, processes of medical record unit in Gharazi Hospital [Isfahan] are studied using SPC tools. It is a descriptive, retrospective and trend study which was carried out by assembling indicators for some processes in medical record unit from 2003 to 2008. After Library studies, suggested indicators by experts [for Process controlling] were collected through 2 checklists. For quantitative indicators of medical records evaluation, all admitted patients during study period and for time assessing about 1500 patients were chosen randomly. Data were analyzed using Excel software. Findings showed that during study period, the average time for patient discharge order [by doctors] was at 9:54 a.m. and patients waiting time in discharge process decreased [with the average of 53 minutes]. In quantitative evaluation of medical records deficits, accepted fault rate [or the base line] consumed as about 6%. Gharazi Hospital tries to control tolerance of its processes by using SPC tools and maintaining some internal standards as baselines. These baselines may be shared with other hospitals and help to produce national and regional standards

[Utilization of research results at office of deputy minister for management and resources development and identification of obstacles]

The main purpose of this project was exactly identification of the applied researches done by different offices of the Iranian Ministry of Health, Remedies and Medical Education in the deputy between September of 1998 to September of 2003, considering their results and the degree of utilization by the users. This project had 4 steps .The 1[st] step was a questionnaire for identifying some demographic data .Study of research final reports was the 2[nd] step, gathering special goals and tangible products .In the 3[rd] one, an interview was made with the researches main users .The last step was to analyze the findings and to emphasize on systematic obstacles with relevant suggestions. For total of 23 researches, about $ 462000 paid .For 16 researches a public announcement have done, the reminders had restrict announces .Among the researchers, 17 were selected by their proposals, but 6 ones just by their Cerculem Vitaes .Only the degrees of 17 researchers were relevant to the research subjects. The sum of all researches done in this period, the utilization capability was [High], but the utilization indeed was [Low] .About 38%of them were faced with some managerial obstacles and 62%had some kinds of operational ones .According to the results, choosing better subjects, documenting the main goals of the research, selecting the researchers based on their experiences and their proposals, attention to operational agenda, stability of policies, and higher administration commitment are useful suggestions for removing the obstacles