[Organizational climate of hospitals at Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Every organization, including a hospital, bears its own climate which needs to be compatible with the needs of the personnel; otherwise, the efficiency of the organization will be diminished. This study was aimed at investigating the organizational climate of the hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS]. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study including all general teaching hospitals of TUNIS. The sample of the study consisted of 354 employees of clinical wards, supportive, and paraclinical departments. The instrument of the study was Sussman and Deep's organizational climate questionnaire employed to assess their attitudes towards the organizational climate of the hospitals. Data entry was carried out by Excel software and data analysis was performed by SPSS software using T-test, Anova, and Duncan statistical methods. Less than half of the personnel believed that the organizational climate was favorable. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between organizational climate the three variables of age [p = 0.01], employment status [p = 0.012], and the job type [p = 0.007]. Most of the employees, having showed positive attitude only towards role clarity and organizational communication effectiveness, had negative attitude towards the organizational climate of the hospitals. The administrators of these hospitals, therefore, should take measures to change the climates through establishing efficient reward system, transparent organizational procedures, etc.

Microlithiasis and Nephrolithiasis among infants: Is it a new phenomenon?

Although nephrolithiasis is a rare but a serious problem for children's health, recent data has showed that the prevalence of pediatric nephrolithiasis has increased in both developed and developing countries. North and West of Iran, as a country located in Afro-Asian stone-forming belt, has the highest incidence for renal stones among adults. This study aimed to determine the incidence of microlithiasis and nephrolithiasis among infants in a city at North West of Iran. It was a cross-sectional study on infants aged less than one year old, diagnosed as patients with microlithiasis and nephrolithiasis, over three months period [since March 2010] who were referred to pediatrician in a city of East Azerbaijan province. Demographic data [age, sex], number of stones, size of stones, presence of hydronephrosis in kidneys, history of jaundice and family history of stone disease were recorded. Incidence of microlithiasis and nephrolithiasis was 0.04866 and 0.03244, respectively. Fever [30%] was the main cause of complication. Male to female ratio was 4:1, and 20% of our subjects had a positive history of nephrolithiasis in their first degree relatives. This area has the highest incidence of microlithiasis and nephrolithiasis. Emergent population-based and case-control studies are needed to report its incidence/prevalence of nephrolithiasis in other parts of the country as well as to find its etiology