[Study of patients'safety culture in Selected Training hospitals affiliated whith Tehran university of medical sciences]

Patients' safety is a critical component of health care quality. As health care organizations continually strive to improve, there is important growing recognize of establishing a culture of patients' safety. To establish a safety culture in a healthcare organization, the first step is measuring the current culture. The aim of the study was to measure physicians, nurses and Para clinical personnel perceptions in patient safety culture in Tehran's selected hospitals, and to compare findings with U.S. hospitals. Physicians, nurses, and Para clinical personnel who worked in training hospitals affiliated with Tehran university of medical sciences were asked to complete a self-administrated patients' safety culture survey [n = 145]. Data collection was carried by using the Persian version of HSOPS, developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]. Cronbach's alpha and chi-square tests were employed in statistical analyses. Among the dimensions of patients' safety culture with the highest percentage of positive responses the teamwork within units [67%] was higher, whereas that with the lowest percentage of positive responses was non-punitive response to error [51%]. Except to Handoffs and transitions dimension the entire dimension scores were lower than the benchmark scores. The study revealed that more than half of the participants were not reported the errors. Improving patients' safety culture should be a priority among hospital administrators. Meanwhile, Healthcare staff should be encouraged to report errors without fear of punishment action

Clinical Care Improvement with Use of Health Information Technology Focusing on Evidence Based Medicine / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare institutions need timely patient information from various sources at the point-of-care. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a tool for proper and efficient incorporation of the results of research in decision-making. Characteristics of medical treatment processes and practical experience concerning the effect of EBM in the clinical process are surveyed. METHODS: A cross sectional survey conducted in Tehran hospitals in February-March 2012 among 51 clinical residents. The respondents were asked to apply EBM in clinical decision-making to answer questions about the effect of EBM in the clinical process. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used in this study. RESULTS: EBM provides a framework for problem solving and improvement of processes. Most residents (76%) agreed that EBM could improve clinical decision making. Eighty one percent of the respondents believed that EBM resulted in quick updating of knowledge. They believed that EBM was more useful for diagnosis than for treatment. There was a significant association between out-patients and in-patients in using electronic EBM resources. CONCLUSIONS: Research findings were useful in clinical practice and decision making. The computerized guidelines are important tools for improving clinical process quality. When learning how to use IT, methods of search and evaluation of evidence for diagnosis, treatment and medical education are necessary. Purposeful use of IT in clinical processes reduces workload and improves decision-making.