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

[Identifying the constraints faced by medical sciences universities in entering the second phase of health financial management reform: a qualitative study]

Introduction: Due to the need for transition from accrual accounting as the first phase of health financial management reform to unit cost as the second phase of this reform, this study was conducted in 2012 to investigate the most important constraints faced by Medical Sciences Universities against this reform

Method: This was a qualitative study through happlying Delphi method. Fifteen experts including resource development assistants and financial managers of Medical Universities accompanied with experts in health new financial management reform from Ministry of Health and Medical Education were attended 3 rounds of Delphi for achieving agreement

Results: Findings indicated that the most potential constraint belongs to the "need for human resource empowerment in executive body of the universities". "Novelty of unit cost in health sector" and "lack of previous similar experience" were also identified as the first actual limitations in establishing the second phase of health financial management reform

Conclusion: Considering the complete establishment of accrual accounting as one of the most important pre requisites for unit cost success, in order to flatten the way for reform, it is necessary to prepare a unique and specific framework and guideline for unit cost of services through contribution of all departments and branches of MOHME and financial officers of Universities of Medical Sciences

Readiness of hospitals affiliated with Shiraz university of medical sciences for implementation of radio frequency identification technology

Introduction: Applying information technology in healthcare system is one of the most important criteria of the World Health Organization for evaluating the quality of healthcare systems of different countries. Moreover, applying this technology in different parts of health care system can create great potentials for improving the quality of healthcare services. In this regard, Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] technology is one of the most practical technologies in identifying and collecting data. The present study aimed to compare the readiness of Shiraz University of medical sciences hospitals for implementation of RFID system in 2014

Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014. The research population consisted of 110 senior and middle managers. Due to the limited research population, census method was used. The research tool was a questionnaire prepared by the researcher to investigate the hospitals' readiness for implementation of RFID technology. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were approved by the experts. Cronbach's alpha test was run to determine the reliability of the questionnaire [data were considered significant at p <0.05]. Also, the data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive statistics [mean, standard deviation, and percentage] and inferential statistics [one-way ANOVA]

Results: The study showed that the readiness level of the hospitals was moderate. Comparing the mean of the total readiness level in the hospitals under the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between hospital M and other hospitals [P=0.003]. However, the total readiness of hospital I was higher than others

Conclusion: Among 13 hospitals under the study, the hospitals I and A were moderately ready and others were not ready for implementation of RFID technology. Thus, considering various applications and advantages of RFID technology, it is suggested that the hospitals should prepare the budget, improve the technical and communicative infrastructures, and also plan to implement this technology

[ effective factors on staffs` satisfaction in accordance with Smith- Kendall-Hullin model in teaching hospitals: a case study]

Introduction: Challenges of service provision systems necessitate the presence of staff with higher motivation to work more efficiently, so paying close attention to job satisfaction of these staffs to enhance organizational efficiency sounds essential. The aim of this study was to investigate and among those staffs working in a Shohadaye Tajrish educational Hospital in Tehran

Method: This was a cross-sectional correlative study on a 200-staff sample in a teaching hospital in Tehran which was selected by a simple accidental sampling in 2013. The research instrument was a questionnaire with 25 questions that was considered suitable for face and construct validity and reliability. Data analysis was done by parametric statistics and Pearson correlation on statistical level of 0.05 applying SPSS version 18

Results: Results indicated that the highest average of the participants was related to satisfaction of coworker's dimension 4.05+/-0.87, and the least average belonged to satisfaction of salary 1.54+/-0.74. Furthermore, there was positive and statisticant relation between the whole satisfaction and all other five dimensions of the model. Finally the analysis among two variables [sex and age] and whole job satisfaction had significant relationship

Conclusion: It seems that correcting reward mechanisms in hospitals and applying managerial tools like performance-based-management can improve the staffs` performance and motivation. In addition, reinforcing the social relationships among coworkers may lead to incremental changes in one of the most important dimensions of the model and finally affect the whole satisfaction

Electronic health in perspective of healthcare managers: a qualitative study in south of Iran

The important role of electronic health as well as importance of health care systems awareness and readiness may lead to develop the essential infrastructures for electronic health especially in developing countries. This study aims to investigate goals, gains, applications, challenges and other important issues related to success performance of electronic health. This research proposed a grounded theory in a qualitative design and a purposive sampling was used to select participants which consisted of 28 hospital managers and staff field managers working in deputy of health and curative affairs of Medical Science Universities in south of Iran. Semi structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide and intended themes derived from the results using Max QDA software during five steps. Nine themes through interviewees` viewpoints were made up as followed: Electronic health definition, necessity and importance of electronic health, electronic health advantages, relationship between electronic health and internet, physicians` opposition to electronic health, prerequisites for electronic health, solutions for applying electronic health plan, factors affecting electronic health acceptance in society and electronic health system challenges. It seems that there are good circumstances in the south medical universities about settlement and implementations of electronic health and their managers are aware of its advantages, importance and necessities. The present findings implicate that these organizations should consider the user friendly and probable resistances of the present clients, in this regard it is suggested that the used technology must be accepted by users, having standard base, inexpensive and simple enough while less vulnerable in response to changes

Performance ratio analysis: a national study on Iranian hospitals affiliated to ministry of health and medical education

This study was designed to present and compare Iranian hospitals' performance applying ratio analysis technique. This cross-sectional survey was conducted to present an instant image of 139 Iranian hospitals' performance status applying ratio analysis as one of the non parametric technical efficiency assessment methods in 2008. Data was collected using nine dimensional questionnaires supported by world wide web to achieve main hospital ratios. Final analysis was performed applying classic statistics and relevant statistical tests on significant level of 0.05. Four hospital performance indicators were estimated in the studied hospitals as follows: Bed turnover rate [BTR] was fluctuated from 64.5 to 114.8 times for hospitals located in rich and poor areas respectively. Moreover Bed Interval Rate [BIT] was calculated 1.36 versus 2.4 in the poor and rich areas. Average length of stay [ALS] was computed 1.82 for the poor regions but 3.27 for the rich ones furthermore, a positive statistical significant correlation was seen between ALS and the hospital size [P=0.001, r=0.28]. Average bed occupancy rate [BOR] was 57.8% and its variation was from 31.4% to 64.5% depending on the hospital size so that there was a positive statistical significant relationship between the hospital size and BOR [P=0.006, r=0.32]. Regarding that BOR, ALS, BTR and BIT along with mortality rates are mentioned as the most considerable performance indicators, applying analytic frameworks more than considering single and raw indicators are severely recommended

Opportunities and challenges against cross border supply of health services in Iranian health sector: a qualitative approach

Recognition of positive and negative outcomes of globalization in different areas of telemedicine is one of all countries priorities. This study was conducted to investigate the most significant opportunities and challenges of telemedicine in Iranian setting from the experts' points of view. This was a qualitative research, applying structure and thematic analysis on a goal- oriented sample of 22 key informants in private and public health sector. Deep and semi-structured interviews were used until achieving saturation. Data were analyzed applying a 5-step process of framework analysis to extract main themes. Results lead to present 12 main themes in challenges part including exit of money, high cost of telemedicine, un suitable structure of telemedicine, restricted electronic financing network, lack of patient laws, inter sector cooperation, lack of insurance system and 6 main themes about opportunities containing absorbing incomes, increase of employment and quality improvement of internal health services,... It seems that the revenue increment driving from telemedicine can be used for developing health infrastructures especially for the poor. It is along with improving quality of health services providing for foreigners in those successful countries in telemedicine scope that may lead to absorb the large number of sick persons applying their health services