Designing and implementation of web-based personal health record for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Using personal health record [PHR] for the management of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] as a chronic disease can be beneficial for the patients and provide their needs and make them more informed. PHRs offer an integrated and comprehensive view of health information, including information people generate themselves and information from doctors , and information from their pharmacies and insurance companies. Using personal health record is one of the crucial aspects of improving personal health. In this survey, we designed and implemented a web-based PHR for patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] in order to help improve the health status of the patients with IBD.

Materials and Methods: In designing level based on observing methods and assessing documents, at first, the minimum data set was set and then required areas of designing PHR using the questionnaire method and determining content validity by IBD experts were set. The requirements were categorized based on continuous care record standards. In this survey, the process of modeling and implementing patients and physicians modules was done, too

Results: Basic capabilities of the system were determined in four parts. Then, the results of the survey of 17 IBD experts about 172 required data in five areas with Cronbach's alpha upper 0.7 were set. Designing and implementing were done for patients and physicians in two different modules

Conclusion: This system makes information coherent and enables us to access and manage the health information of the patient. We could also do remote monitoring of patients in long term cares. Also by using the results of the questionnaire survey in patients and physicians modules, we could check out changes in the quality of patients' lives and severity of the disease during the treatment

applications of virtual reality technology in medical groups teaching

Introduction: virtual reality is a new method for training different medical groups. Based on this technology, professionals and students of various medical sciences can determine their level of competence for medical treatment before any performance on the patient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the applications of virtual reality technology for training the medical groups

Methods: this is a scoping review study conducted in 2016. Articles were retrieved through the search of related keywords in databases such as Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Springer, and Google scholar. Then, after applying the entry criteria, 21 papers were selected from a total of 1343. Data extraction was done by a data collection form. The collected data were summarized and reported using content analysis technique according to the study purpose

Results: the findings of the study indicated that 11 cases [48%] have used virtual education technology for laparoscopic surgery training. Using virtual reality has improved learning in 17 [74%] studies. A higher accuracy in medical practice by people trained through VR has been reported in 20 [87%] studies

Conclusion: the results indicate that the application of virtual reality capabilities plays an important role in improving the performance of different medical groups. According to the results, it can be suggested that virtual reality capabilities should be used to train different medical groups based on their individual and collective needs

study of communication skills in health care management students and its association with demographic characteristics

Introduction: Communication skills are one of the most important skills for health care managers and play an important role in their personal life and future occupation. The present study aimed to evaluate the students' communication skills as well as its relationship with the students' demographic characteristics

Method: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 153 university students majoring in healthcare management in 2014. A self-administered communication skills questionnaire and demographic information form were used to collect the data. Then, the data were analyzed by using SPSS software and appropriate statistical tests including T-Test and ANOVA

Results: The results showed that the students on average got 77.60 out of possible 100 in communication skills. The relationship between skills and demographic characteristics, except age, was not statistically significant [p<0.001]. The total Cronbach's alpha was estimated 0.7. There was a statistically significant difference between the communication skills scores of participants in terms of different age groups [p<0.05]

Conclusion: The present findings showed a moderate score in communicative skills in students of health care management. Although the communication skill levels in these students were not low, due to the importance of these skills in their future occupation, serious attention is needed to improve their communication skills

Job satisfaction and social capital in university teachers

Introduction: social capital is multidimensional and it is about the value of social networks and relations between people. Social capital refers to the relationships that forms the quality and quantity of the society's social interactions. This study was designed to determine the relationship between social capital and faculty member's job satisfaction in Shiraz Medical School

Method: social capital is multidimensional and it is about the value of social networks and relations between people. Social capital refers to the relationships that forms the quality and quantity of the society's social interactions. This study was designed to determine the relationship between social capital and faculty member's job satisfaction in Shiraz Medical School

Results: 69 [57%] female and 51 [43%] male faculty members participated in this study. Also the findings indicated that mean +/- SD of social capital was 67.75 +/- 6.67 from 75 and that of job satisfaction was 77.1 +/- 6.41 from 100. There was a significant relationship between age and job satisfaction [p=0.002], but no relationship was found with marital status [p=0.24].There was a positive relationship between job satisfaction and social capital [p=0.003]

Conclusion: considering the results obtained from this study, it seems that paying attention to social capital and personal characteristics is a useful approach for behavioral interventions and organizational goals in order to upgrade the job satisfaction

effect of web quest and team-based learning on students' self-regulation

Introduction: In this study, the authors aimed to examine the effects of cooperative learning methods using Web Quest and team-based learning on students' self-direction, self-regulation, and academic achievement

Methods: This is a comparative study of students taking a course in mental health and psychiatric disorders. In two consecutive years, a group of students were trained using the Web Quest approach as a teaching strategy [n=38], while the other group was taught using team-based learning [n=39]. Data gathering was based on Guglielmino's self-directed learning readiness scale [SDLRS] and Buford's self-regulation questionnaire. The data were analyzed by descriptive test using M [IQR], Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the Mann-Whitney U-test in SPSS software, version 13. p<0.05 was considered as the significance level

Results: The results of the Mann-Whitney U test showed that the participants' self- directed [self-management] and self-regulated learning differed between the two groups [p=0.04 and p=0.01, respectively]. Wilcoxon test revealed that self-directed learning indices [self-control and self-management] were differed between the two strategies before and after the intervention. However, the scores related to learning [students' final scores] were higher in the WebQuest approach than in team-based learning

Conclusion: By employing modern educational approaches, students are not only more successful in their studies but also acquire the necessary professional skills for future performance. Further research to compare the effects of new methods of teaching is required

Technical efficiency of Shiraz school of medicine in research and education domains: a data envelopment analysis

Introduction: Efficiency evaluation of universities and faculties is one of the tools that help managers to identify the departments' strengths and weakness. The main objective of the present research was to measure and compare the technical efficiency of Shiraz school of medicine departments using Data Envelopment Analysis [DEA] technique

Methods: This cross-sectional and retrospective study was performed on clinical and non-clinical departments in research and education domains over the period of 2006 to 2011. Different inputs and outputs were considered for research and educational domain separately. Efficiency was measured based on the observed optimal performance

Results: Findings showed that pathology and anatomy departments achieved the score of 100 in technical efficiency in education during 2006 to 2011. During this period, parasitology, psychiatric and pediatrics department's achieved the score of 100 for technical efficiency in research domain. The lowest mean of relative educational efficiency belonged to orthopedic department; as to relative research efficiency, the lowest mean was shown in orthopedics and genetics departments. The mean technical efficiency of non-medical departments in education and research domain was 91.93 and 76.08, respectively, while the mean technical efficiency of the clinical department in educational and research fields was 91.02 and 82.23, respectively

Conclusion: Using multiple input and output in DEA technique provided a comprehensive evaluation of efficiency in Shiraz school of medicine departments. The DEA could successfully estimate the technical efficiency of the departments in research and educational fields. Moreover, the deficiency in each department was found; this could help them to plan for improvement

Assessment of students" perspectives about master of public health program in medical school of Shiraz University

Introduction: Integration of public health and medical education has been thought to have an important role in medical students' training. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences has developed an MD/MPH dual degree educational program for the talented volunteer students. The aim of this study was to assess the students' viewpoints about various aspects of Shiraz MD/MPH program

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on Shiraz undergraduate medical students, who were enrolled in MD/MPH program. A self-structured questionnaire in Persian consisting of 4 parts was used; it included demographic factors including 16 questions which evaluated the students' perspective of the goals, content, skill development, applicability and meeting their expectations; 7 questions evaluating the self-reported increase of knowledge; and 3 multiple choice questions to assess the students' motivations and opinions on the impact of the program on their future career. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis

Results: All MD/MPH students [89] with a mean age of 21.4 +/- 1.34 participated in this study. Forty one of the students [46.1%] were male and 48 [53.9%] female. Overall, 86.1% of them had positive views about the goals of the program; also, 83.5%, 81.2% and 81.9% of them reported a positive viewpoint about the contents, the applicability and development of specific skills, and meeting their expectations, respectively. The students' most frequent motivation was [learning how to research systematically] [73%]. The majority of the students reported this program to be moderately to highly effective in increasing their knowledge in the provided courses

Conclusion: The students had a positive view about almost all of the aspects of the MD/MPH program; this may be indicative of the program being successful in delivering the goals, increasing the students' knowledge and skills, and meeting their expectations to date. Students' enthusiasm for the educational program may lead to their motivation for better learning and thus in the program's success

Evaluation of medical education virtual program: P3 model

Introduction: In e-learning, people get involved in a process and create the content [product] and make it available for virtual learners. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the first virtual master program in medical education at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences according to P3 Model

Methods: This is an evaluation research study with post single group design used to determine how effective this program was. All students 60 who participated more than one year in this virtual program and 21 experts including teachers and directors participated in this evaluation project. Based on the P3 e-learning model, an evaluation tool with 5-point Likert rating scale was designed and applied to collect the descriptive data

Results: Students reported storyboard and course design as the most desirable element of learning environment [2.30 +/- 0.76], but they declared technical support as the less desirable part [1.17 +/- 1.23]

Conclusion: Presence of such framework in this regard and using it within the format of appropriate tools for evaluation of e-learning in universities and higher education institutes, which present e-learning curricula in the country, may contribute to implementation of the present and future e-learning curricula efficiently and guarantee its implementation in an appropriate way

influence of parenting style on academic achievement and career path

Introduction: Several factors affect the academic performance of college students and parenting style is one significant factor. The current study has been done with the purpose of investigating the relationship between parenting styles, academic achievement and career path of students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Methods: This is a correlation study carried out at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Among 1600 students, 310 students were selected randomly as the sample. Baumrind's Parenting Style and Moqimi's Career Path questionnaires were used and the obtained scores were correlated with the students' transcripts. To study the relation between variables Pearson correlation coefficient was used

Results: There was a significant relationship between authoritarian parenting style and educational success [p=0.03]. Also findings showed a significant relationship between firm parenting style and Career Path of the students, authoritarian parenting style and Career Path of the students, educational success and Career Path of the students [p=0.001]

Conclusion: Parents have an important role in identifying children's talent and guiding them. Mutual understanding and close relationship between parents and children are recommended. Therefore, it is recommended that the methods of correct interaction of parents and children be more valued and parents familiarize their children with roles of businesses in society and the need for employment in legitimate businesses and this important affair should be more emphasized through mass media and family training classes

study of the problems between basic insurance organizations and teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences as viewed by the staff of income hospitals and representative of the insurer's organization in 2013

Introduction: In Iran health insurance is a significant tool in healthcare costs, financing health care and equal access to health services for people. Problems between hospitals and insurance organizations impose extra cost to the patient, leading to financial losses they will infringe upon the rights of patients. This study aimed to determine the issues between hospitals and basic insurance organizations and proposed practical solutions to solve problems in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Method: This research was a qualitative study [content analysis], which was conducted in 2013. The research population consisted of teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences; Purposeful sampling was used and continued until data saturation. The representative of the insurers and staff of income hospitals were asked questions using a semi-structured interview. In this study, we used NVIVO for data analysis

Results: The results of this study showed that the most common problems between basic insurance organizations and teaching hospitals include the lack of prompt payment of hospital bills and imposing deduction on the hospitals

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that cooperation between hospitals and insurance organizations could be improved by timely payment of hospital bills and codifying appropriate rules and regulations by basic insurance organizations and, on the other hand, with timely completion of bills and training of hospital staff by the hospital authorities

Evaluation of socio-economic factors affecting the demand for health

Introduction: Individual health has been proved to be under the influence of various factors such as the use of health care services, diet, smoking and alcohol, physical environment, and health-related behaviors. Therefore, the main determinants of health are factors such as income, education, and access to health services, and systematic changes in these factors lead to socio-economic injustice in health. The present study was carried out through library and internet search. Medline and Google Scholar databases were also utilized

Combining Contents and Results: According to the present study, an increase in health input expenses would inevitably lead to aggravation of the health situation and decrease in income would result in the worst health status of the poor. Moreover, people with higher education use less health inputs; however, they enjoy higher status than those with lower educational levels

Conclusion: Health demand approach provides only a part of the information needed for policy-makers and decision-makers in health system. Theoretical and empirical analyses of the health claim could indicate that policy actions are likely to be more effective in overcoming barriers to health but are not capable of determining which one is likely to be more cost-effective . The demand for information about the health only provides the necessary tools about the benefits of special policy making decisions. So the tool should be combined with other techniques including cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses

Executive and financial manager's awareness of economic issues in private and public hospitals in Shiraz

Introduction: Managers, as the members of decision making team in hospitals, are required to understand economic issues In order to increase their knowledge, make better decisions making, and bring about economic growth in hospitals. Thus by measuring the managers' level of economic knowledge and understanding their weaknesses at this field, we can take an important step in line with this transcendental target

Method: This was an analytical– descriptive study conducted in 2013. In this study, the views of 30 hospital executives and financial managers about various aspects of hospital economy including payment methods, techniques of economic evaluation, hospital income, and cost and subtractions were studied using questionnaires and interviews. SPSS 18 was used to analyze the collected data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant

Results: None of the studied managers had a good level of knowledge and most managers [80.7%] had an undesirable level of knowledge, and few of them had a moderate level of knowledge. The administrators' average knowledge of the ways to reduce the cost and increase the income of private hospitals was more than that of hospital administrators; as to the economic evaluation techniques and methods of payment, hospital administrators had more knowledge than managers of private hospitals

Conclusion: The managers' low level of economic knowledge can be enhanced by more selective appointment of individuals for these sensitive positions and also increased by their participation in workshops and training courses

Clinical learning environment at Shiraz medical school

Clinical learning occurs in the context of a dynamic environment. Learning environment found to be one of the most important factors in determining the success of an effective teaching program. To investigate, from the attending and resident's perspective, factors that may affect student leaning in the educational hospital setting at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [SUMS]. This study combined qualitative and quantitative methods to determine factors affecting effective learning in clinical setting. Residents evaluated the perceived effectiveness of the university hospital learning environment. Fifty two faculty members and 132 residents participated in this study. Key determinants that contribute to an effective clinical teaching were autonomy, supervision, social support, workload, role clarity, learning opportunity, work diversity and physical facilities. In a good clinical setting, residents should be appreciated and given appropriate opportunities to study in order to meet their objectives. They require a supportive environment to consolidate their knowledge, skills and judgment