[ model for evaluation and validation of different dimensions of accountability in teaching hospitals in Iran: 2012]

Introduction: Monitoring and assessing the quality of health services in relation to accountability is the first step in providing proper services in hospitals which as the most important health organizations entail the need for evaluation. The aim of this study was to validate the ethical, legal, financial, operational, political, structural, cultural and information dimensions of accountability [notification rules of hospital] in teaching hospitals

Method: This was a method validation study. A sample of 580 participants, working in teaching hospitals, was selected by quota random sampling using Krejcie - Morgan formula. An 8 item questionnaire with 34 indicators on the basis of Likert scale was distributed among the staff. The data were analyzed by the Lisrel software using confirmatory factor and path analysis and multiple regressions

Results: The findings showed that comparative fit index of different dimensions of the questionnaire, showing the degree of consistency of the model with real data, was equal to 1. This suggests the strength of the one-dimensional model. Cronbach's alpha for the internal consistency of different dimensions was 0.791 for financial and 0.901 for information aspects

Conclusion: The present study provides a systematic process and model to validate and assess different dimensions and components of accountability for managers. The innovations and special features of this study will help present a new model to identify better dimensions and indicators for improving accountability in health care sector

[Environmental ranking of industries located at west of Tehran based on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of industrial wastewaters in 2011]

This is a descriptive and cross sectional study. The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental ranking of industries located at west of Tehran based on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of industrial wastewaters in 2011. This study was conducted by site visit, questionnaire completion, database production and results analysis. The questionnaire was consisted of 30 questions about quantity, quality and management of industrial wastewater. Total number of industries with over than 50 personnel, was 287. Class-weighted sampling was used and the sample size was contained 50 industries. In this study, industries were scored from 1 to 10, based on the flow rate, BOD and COD, generation of wastewater per worker per day and then were ranked according to the total score. The average flow of wastewater generated by these 50 industries was 9422 m[3]/day. Wood and cellulose industries with 730 liters wastewater per worker per day was considered as the greatest wastewater generator. Minimum organic loading was related to non-metallic mineral industries with COD of 205 mg/ L and BOD of 85 mg / L. The maximum COD was related to paper industries with the rate of 8800 mg/ L and maximum BOD was related to food and drug industries with the rate of 1536 mg/ L. This environmental ranking was indicated that while paper industries contributed the most pollution load, non-metallic mineral industries had the least pollution load.

[Relationship between structural empowering and nurses' readiness for change]

People are the focus of all changes in organizations. Therefore, their readiness for change is among most important factors in current organizations. Empowerment enables employees to deal with the problems and threats with endurance and flexibility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between structural empowerment with nurses' readiness for change. It was a descriptive correlational study. One hundred and thirty nurses working in Hasheminejad hospital in Tehran were recruited by simple random sampling. Data related to people's readiness for change, and structural empowering was collected by means of Pankern Han et al. [1998] tool and Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire- 11 [CWEQ-11] respectively. Data was analyzed using Spearman correlation test and multivariate linear regression analysis by means of SPSS-PC [v. 16]. There was a significant positive relationship between structural empowerment and nurses' readiness for change [P

[Investigation of industrial waste management in industries located between Tehran and Karaj zone in 2009-2010]

In recent years, poor industrial waste managements have created many crises in human societies. The aim of this study was to investigate industrial waste management located between Tehran and Karaj zone in 2009-2010. This study is descriptive and sectional which was done by site visits, [Iranian environmental protection organization] use of questionnaires, database production and results analysis. The questionnaire consisted of 45 questions mainly about industrial waste; quantity, quality and management. Total number of industries with over 50 personnel's, calculated as 283. Class-weighted sampling was used in which the sample size contained 50 industries. Total generated industrial waste was 123451, kg per day. Major hazardous waste generated in industrial sections included: chemical and plastic making. About 45.28% of waste generated disposed by private sectors. Landfill with 62% and reuse with 17% were the first and second alternative of common methods for final disposal of solid waste in this zone. In order to reduce hazardous waste generation in this zone, reuse and recovery maximization of the waste must be noted in short-term. In long-term, some industries such as chemical-plastic and electronics which have high rate of hazardous waste production must be replaced with other industries with low rate production, such as wood-cellulose and paper industries

[Survey of breakfast consumption status and its predictors among Qom students based on the Pender's health promotion model constructs]

Breakfast, considered to be the most important meal, is skipped more ferquently than other meals by children and adolescents. This study aimed to determine breakfast consumption and its predictors among Qom school girl students based on the Pender's health promotion model constructs. This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 100 secondary school girl students selected by classified random sampling from among secondary schools of the City of Qom, Iran. The Pender's health promotion model [HPM] constructs were used as the theoretical framework. Data were collected using questionnaires. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by SPSS [version 17] software, the statistical tests being correlation and regression analysis. The average number of breakfasts consumed per week was 3 [ +/- 1.5]. Body mass index, time of waking up in the morning, and interpersonal influences had no significant correlations with the average number of breakfasts consumed per week. On the basis of the Pender's health promotion model constructs and personal factors having a potentially significant correlation with behavior, 69% of the variability in breakfast consumption by the girl students [R[2] =0.69, F =12.68, p< 0.0001] was predicted by the following variables: prior related behaviors, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and competing demands and preferences. In designing nutritional interventions aiming at increasing breakfast consumption in school girl students, it is better to put more emphasis on strategies to promote self-efficacy and reduce perceived barriers. Also, paying due attention to prior related behavior and competing demands and preferences can be beneficial in designing effective interventions

[Quantitative and qualitative investigation of industrial solid waste in industrial plants located between Tehran and Karaj]

Rapid population growth, industrial development, urbanization culture propagation and excessive material consumption are the most important factor which caused over increasing of municipal, industrial and agricultural waste in human society. Inappropriate disposal of generated waste in recent years created several environmental menace and crisis in human society. For investigation about existent situation of industrial waste generation questionnaire had been used. This questionnaire was catered by Iran environmental protection organization. Aforementioned questionnaire contained 45 questions about combination, quality and quantity of industrial waste. Total number of more than 50 personnel industry was 287. But sample contained 50 randomly selected industries. Gathered data have been analyzed with SPSS 18. Total generated industrial waste was 123451KG per day which had volume equal to 781 cubic meters per day. Generated waste capitation per every worker was 5.8 KG. Maximum frequency of industrial was related to machinery and equipment group which maximum generated waste was related to this industrial group too. Maximum hazardous waste was for inflammable waste with 34 weight percent. Major hazardous waste generating industrial was chemical and plastic making industry. Yielded result from this investigation has shown that significant relation existed between waste production rate and personnel number. The more personnel are, the more waste production increase

[ effect of employee training on insurance deduction rate at firoozgar teaching hospital: 2008-2009]

Due to the low tariff of diagnostic and treatment services in hospitals as well as the high costs of delivering the health care services, the necessity of receiving all revenues from the insurance organizations can be justified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of employee training on insurance deduction rate at Firoozgar Teaching Hospital. The present study was longitudinal, analytical, cross-sectional, and applied in nature. The population consisted of the insurance documents of all hospitalized patients insured by the two insurance organizations of 'Social Security' and 'Medical Services' [1685 and 1330 files, respectively] in Firoozgar Teaching Hospital during spring 2007 and spring 2008. Data were processed by SPSS software and were analyzed using paired t-tests. The average percentage of management errors in insurance documents was 1.38 and 3.25 before and after the training, respectively. Furthermore, the amount of deductions decreased from 9.13 to 9.6 before and after the training, respectively. The effect of training on errors was confirmed considering both insurance organization types [P

[Application of quality management system criteria for assessing medical records departments in teaching hospitals of Iran university of medical sciences; 2008]

Quality management is an intelligent, steady and continuous procedure with a synergic effect on organization goals resulting in customer satisfaction, increased efficiency and enhanced ability to compete in the market. The procedure is considered as an improvement in traditional methods of business and an established technique which ensures organization survival in today's competitive world. The current study aimed at examining medical records departments in Teaching Hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences [IUMS] applying Quality Management System Criteria. It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The statistical population included medical records departments of ten IUMS Teaching Hospitals. Data collection was done through interview, observation and five checklists which were in accordance with major criteria of Quality Management System mentioned in ISO 9001- 2000 standard. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. The findings showed that resources management with 77% and the measurement of criteria, analysis and process improvement with 47% gained the highest and the lowest scores, respectively. The rates of quality management system, management accountability, and service production were 57%, 56%, and 61%, respectively. The overall average of all criteria applied at Iran University teaching hospitals was 60%. The unacceptable 60% rate of conformity of medical records departments system with the expectations of quality management system can be promoted by adjusting the quality of the functions of these departments with the defined requirements of Quality Management System

Brine shrimp cytotoxicity of some medicinal plants Belongs to Lamiaceae, Asteracea, Rosaceae and Boraginaceae Families

In this report, we evaluated the cytotoxic activity of the hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous methanol extracts of the aerial parts of some species belongs to Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae, Asteraceae and Rosaceae families. In order to examine the cytotoxicity of the plant extracts, Brine Shrimp Cytotoxicity Assay was used against Artemia salina larva. Results showed that Scutellaria Tornefortii indicated cytotoxic activity against the larva of Artemia salina. The minimum lethal concentration of its aqueous methanol extract, as the most effective extract, was 6 g/ml compared to berberine hydrochloride as the positive control [LC[50]=26 microg/ml]. EtOAc extract of Rubus hyrcanus was also a potent cytotoxic extract [LC[50]=28 microg/ml]. In addition to those mentioned plants, Echium amoenum, Onosma bulbotrichum, Stachys byzanthina and Rubus discolor could be the potential sources of cytotoxic components. Some of the medicinal plants, growing widely in north part of Iran, are effective against the larvae of A. salina, so they could be a promising source of anti-cancer and anti-tumor compounds

[ estimation of production function in Orumieh Medical Sciences University hospitals]

Hospital is known as an important and the most costly performing unit of health care systems, therefore, economic analysis of this unit is very important This study designed to estimate hospital production function in Orumieh Medical Sciences University hospital's. for this study 16 hospitals were studied. We used panel data for estimation of mentioned function, data were gathered from 2000 to 2006. A double- logged form of the Cobb-Douglas production function has been estimated. The dependent variable is inpatient admissions, the explanatory variables that are included are the umber of doctors, nurses, beds, other staffs and average length of stay [ALOS]. As a result of study the elasticity of doctors is EY. P =1.08, the elasticity of nurses is EY. N =3.4, the elasticity of beds is EY. B =1.4, and the elasticity of other staffs is EY. P P =2.8. There was not significant correlation between ALOS and the number of admission. The marginal production of inputs are MPP =391, MPN=244, MPB=103, MPP P =273, and, there is an increasing return to scale. Also, we have investigated MRTS1 between production factors. Results of this study show that, the maximum elasticity is attributable to the number of nurses and then respectively to, other staffs, beds and doctors. The marginal production of inputs shows an important role of doctors in production. The decision makers, in critical circumstances can substitute inputs with considering MRTS between inputs. There is an increasing economic of scale and in long-term there will be a monopolistic competition market, therefore, for achievement to equity issue, the intervention of government in this hospitals market is necessary