Identifying and prioritizing the factors effective in customer satisfaction using the TOPSIS method

Introduction: Customer satisfaction has been suggested as one of the interesting and challenging issues of management in the new millennium. In addition, oral and dental health and the quality of the services the health centers delivered to the patients directly affect the customer satisfaction. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify, investigate, and rank the factors affecting the customer satisfaction in the department of dentistry of Shiraz Farhangiyan health center

Method: The present descriptive study was conducted on the specialists and patients of the department of dentistry of Shiraz Farhangiyan health center. The validity of the questionnaire utilized in the study was confirmed by expert professors and its reliability was approved using the Cronbach's alpha formula. Finally, the study data were analyzed in SPSS statistical software [v. 16], using inferential statistics

Results: All the hypotheses were confirmed by the results of the statistical analyses and quality, services, and expenditures revealed to affect the customer satisfaction in the department of dentistry of Shiraz Farhangiyan health center. Moreover, these factors were ranked using the TOPSIS method and the results showed quality and expenditures as the most and the least effective factors in customer satisfaction, respectively

Conclusion: Since restoring and arranging the organization based on the customer needs is among the main priorities of designing an organization, managers are suggested to take measures for organizational reformation based on the customers' priorities. Of course, conducting such programs is of utmost importance in health and treatment environments, leading to provision of better services and facilitation of learning, education, and research. Thus, identifying the effective factors in customer satisfaction and ranking them are highly important

Prevalence of thalassaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among Arab migrating nomad children, southern Islamic Republic of Iran

This study investigated the prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency and beta-thalassaemia trait among Arab migrating nomad children in southern Islamic Republic of Iran. Blood samples were analysed from 134 schoolchildren aged < 18 years [51 males, 83 females]. Low serum ferritin [< 12 ng/dL] was present in 17.9% of children [21.7% in females and 11.8% in males]. Low haemoglobin [Hb] correlated significantly with a low serum ferritin. Only 1 child had G6PD deficiency. A total of 9.7% of children had HbA2 >/= 3.5 g/ dL, indicating beta-thalassaemia trait [10.8% in females and 7.8% in males]. Mean serum iron, serum ferritin and total iron binding capacity were similar in males and females. Serum ferritin index was as accurate as Hb index in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anaemia. A high prevalence of beta-thalassaemia trait was the major potential risk factor in this population

Evaluating outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in military personnel referring to the 554 military Zanjan hospital in 2008

Leishmaniasis is one of the important parasitic diseases in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.Iran is one of the endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis in worldwide. Staff of the Armed Forces, sometimes, are forced to accommodate in or around cities and villages thus they are at the risk of this disease and they can transfer the disease to other parts of the country. In this study cutaneous Leishmaniasis status has been studied in patients referring to a 554 military Zanjan hospital in 2009. This study is descriptive and cross-sectional. The military personnel with Leishmaniasis returning from the south west of the country [Fakeh] were examined according to questions of a questionnaire. This Study was done on 37 cases of positive cutaneous Leishmaniasis referred to the 554 military Zanjan hospital. Most of the patients had one scar [54.1%]. The wounds were mostly on hand [35.1%] and then foot [24.3%]. 90% of patients did not notice their bites, because the bite may had no symptoms and pain at first. The results of this study shows that prevention and control among the troops is necessary and recommended before the establishment of camps in the endemic areas of leishmaniasis

Thalassemia, iron and G6PD deficiency in Lor migrating nomad children, Southern Iran

Ferropenia and consequent iron deficiency anemia [IDA], beta-thalassemia, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency are three main common hematologic problems in Iran. This study was conducted on the prevalence of these problems in Lor migrating nomads ethnic group in southern Iran. From June to October 2006, the blood samples of 79 Lor migrating nomadic children including 53 [67.1%] male and 26 [32.9%] female were checked for iron indices and G6PD deficiency. The family history of favism, thalassemiaand, signs and symptoms in relation to anemia of participants were evaluated. RBC count, different types of Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, SI, TIBC and SF were determined immediately after blood sampling. Fourteen [17.7%] children had SF<12 ng/mL while the prevalence of this low serum ferritin was higher in females than males [19.2% vs. 17%]. The low hemoglobin [Hb] level had statistical correlation with the low serum ferritin level. Among all participants, the prevalence of G6PD deficiency was 10.1%, and all of them were male children. The prevalence of beta-thalassemia was 2.5% and all were male. The prevalence of IDA was 17.7%. Although IDA figure is less than those reported in other developing countries [25-35%]; but it shows that Lor tribes in southern Iran are still behind the health status of developed countries [5-8%]. Even the prevalence of beta-thalassemia is not very high, but regarding the devastating potential risk of Cooley's anemia; a careful performance of Iranian thalassemia program is recommended. It seems that G6PD deficiency is prevalent in Lor nomads, so establishment of educational programs and investigation on their dietary habits seem to be a good way to prevent the favism occurrence