[Study of managers' communication skills based on the staff's view in Shiraz university of medical sciences]

Since managers' efficiency depends on their communication skills suitable for their employees, this study was conducted to determine such skills among Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [SUMS] managers. In this cross-sectional study, 298 SUMS employees working at different departments were selected through simple random sampling technique. The data-collection device was a 21-item questionnaire having 3 parts: verbal skill, effective listening, and feedback communication skills. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Statistical tests employed included Pearson correlation, T-Test and ANOVA, and the level of significance was determined at 0.05. The respondents' mean age was 32.7 years. Most of them were female, had a bachelor's degree, and worked in logistics department. According to their judgment, their managers had good verbal and effective listening skills, but were average in their feedback. The highest score for communication skills was reported for the students' department and the lowest score for the research department. Older and more experienced employees evaluated their manager's feedback skill [p= 0.001] at a lower level. The statistical test indicated a significant relationship between feedback and level of education [p= 0.001]. It seems that the intermediate level of effective listening and feedback skills are due to the managers' lack of sufficient scientific and practical attention to the issue of communication. Therefore, it is recommended that educational workshops be held for managers to make them familiar with the importance of effective communication skills

[Work engagement and effective factors among nurses in general teaching hospital of Shiraz university of medical sciences]

Work engagement is defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. Since the quality of care delivery to patients depends on nurse's practices, the objective of this study was to determine work engagement and its effective factors among nurses of general hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. This cross sectional study was performed among 273 in-patient nurses of Namazi and Faghihi hospitals using 2 stages of sampling. Our questionnaire was validated by experts opinions and Cronbach's alpha index [86%]. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were used for the analysis of data by SPSS. According to the results obtained, mean work engagement was 58.95 +/- 10.51 and there was a significant correlation between work engagement and organizational - supervisor support, organizational justice, job characteristics, reward and recognition, organizational citizenship behavior, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, turnover[p<0.05]. The relationship between work engagement and reward was the strongest[r=0.512]. The results imply the importance of work engagement and its related factors. Nurses are one of the biggest health system groups, and their burnout disadvantages hospitals and community. Thus, work engagement should be noticed in all policy-making related to nurses

Ergonomics disorders in the personnel of medical records department at training hospitals of Shiraz University of medical sciences

The current study was designed to focus on the status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the personnel of Medical Records Departments of training hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Since occupational safety has a direct impact on efficiency, assessment of personnel health is of great importance. This cross-sectional descriptive survey included 75 personnel of medical records departments. The required data were collected in Noredic and a demographic questionnaire. It was shown that 92% of the subjects in this study suffered from musculoskeletal disorders. In 2005 they had 177 days off work. Also they were visited by a doctor because of musculoskeletal disorders 26 times in a year and they had 37 days off work. They reported that MSD or pain were present in lumbar 9.3%, neck 9.3%, shoulders 6.7% and wrist 10.7%. There was an insignificant relationship between demographic variables and work related injuries. In 69.3% of the cases, pain quality of MSD was observed at working and in 37.3% cases pain severity was with 3 degrees. Researchers propose use ergonomic factors in workplace to prevent musculoskeletal disorders for medical records staff