RESUMO
European Foundation for Quality Management [EFQM] model is a widely used quality management system [QMS] worldwide, including Iran. Current study aims to verify the quality assessment results of Iranian National Program for Hospital Evaluation [INPHE] based on those of EFQM. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 on a sample of emergency departments [EDs] affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences [TUMS], Iran. The standard questionnaire of EFQM [V-2010] was used to gather appropriate data. The results were compared with those of INPHE. MS Excel was used to classify and display the findings. The average assessment score of the EDs based on the INPHE and EFQM model were largely different [i.e. 86.4% and 31%, respectively]. In addition, the variation range among five EDs' scores according to each model was also considerable [22% for EFQM against 7% of INPHE], especially in the EDs with and without prior record of applying QMSs. The INPHE's assessment results were not confirmed by EFQM model. Moreover, the higher variation range among EDs' scores using EFQM model could allude to its more differentiation power in assessing the performance comparing with INPHE. Therefore, a need for improvement in the latter drawing on other QMSs' [such as EFQM] strengths, given the results emanated from its comparison with EFQM seems indispensable
RESUMO
Regarding negative effects of air pollution on health and athletic performance, this study was run to determine the trend of hourly changes of air pollutants in Tehran [2004 to 2008] and recommend exercise advices for athletes and patients. After getting data from 7 air pollutant monitoring stations, the hourly means of air pollutant concentrations were measured and converted to Air Quality index [AQI] values. To find the cleanest and the most polluted hours in exercise places [parks and stadiums], map of Tehran air pollution was created using data from monitoring stations and Arc GIS software. Exercise advices were recommended according to latest American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM] standpoints. Fine particles less than 10 micrometer [PM10], carbon monoxide [CO] and ozone [O3] were major air pollutants in Tehran. Hourly concentration changes of PM10 were minimal and beyond the desired level. Overall, the cleanest hours were early morning [before 7 am] and then 17 to 18. It is better to perform physical activities in early hours of morning [before 7 am] in Tehran. Regarding the existence of air pollution in all hours of day and night, efforts to reduce air pollution are critical
RESUMO
The pharmaceutical services in Rural Health Centers [RHCs], plays a crucial role to promote the Iranian people health. Aligning with health reforms, the outsourcing approaches on medicinal services have been run, recently. The aim of this study was to determine whether the outsourcing approach in RHCs' pharmacies comparison with the governmental approach has been effective on patients' satisfaction. This study is a quasi-experimental post-test only, including a control group. All of 19 RHCs with outsourced pharmacies and also 19 randomly selected RHCs in governmental pharmacies sector considered as an intervention and control groups, respectively. Outpatients' satisfaction data were collected through interview by using a 6-items questionnaire. To data analyzing Excel 2003 and SPSS ver. 16 software were employed. The overall mean satisfaction from pharmaceutical services of outsourced and non-outsourced [i.e. governmental] pharmacies were 5.28 and 5.75 points [out of maximum 6 points] respectively [p<0.001]. Inadequate time taken to outpatient consults by pharmacies' staff was the most common factor which associated with dissatisfaction. The approach of outsourcing RHCs' pharmacies, despite its promise to positive effect on quality of care, might be failed the users' satisfaction. Thus, essential arrangements like comprehensive and detailed contracts should be provided. Meanwhile, effective mechanisms such as monitoring and evaluation should be considered