Factors affecting hospital services overutilization and reductive strategies in Iran: a qualitative study to explore experts' views.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the viewpoints of the main stakeholders of the Iranian healthcare system about the overutilization of hospital services and strategies to eliminate or reduce it in Iran.

Methods: This is a qualitative study and thematic data analysis using face-to-face semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). We conducted eight interviewers and two FGDs with hospital stakeholders including faculty members, insurance organizations' authorities, experienced hospital administrative staff, hospital managers, and health-care providers.

Strategies for utilisation management of hospital services: a systematic review of interventions.

Background: To achieve efficiency and high quality in health systems, the appropriate use of hospital services is essential. We identified the initiatives intended to manage adult hospital services and reduce unnecessary hospital use among the general adult population.

Methods: We systematically reviewed studies published in English using five databases (PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE via Ovid).

Organizing palliative care in the rural areas of Iran: are family physician-based approaches suitable?

Introduction: The provision of palliative end-of-life care (P/EOLc) for patients, wherever they live, is an increasingly important service, particularly given the increasing rates of cancer and other life-threatening diseases in Iran. However, unfortunately, those living in the rural areas of Iran are greatly disadvantaged with respect to this type of care. Therefore, the present study explored the feasibility of organizing P/EOLc in the rural areas of Iran.

End-of-life Care: Beliefs, Attitudes, and Experiences of Iranian Physicians.

Context: Most of the patients suffering from cancer are diagnosed at late stages of cancer, which curative interventions are unable to improve their quality of life.

Aim: To survey Iranian physicians' attitudes and practices toward end-of-life (EOL) care.

Subjects And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among physicians participating in a national annually conducted educational seminar.

Hospital Care for Newborn Babies: Quality Assessment, A Systematic Review.

Context: Neonatal mortality rate is declining globally. The aim of the present study is to identify relevant indicators for assessing newborn care in hospitals by a systematic review.

Evidence Acquisition: A search on electronic data base and manual searches of personal files for studies on quality indicators of newborn care were carried out.

Attitudes and Knowledge of Iranian Nurses about Hospice Care.

Context: Due to expansion of chronic diseases and increase of health care costs, there is a need for planning and delivering hospice care for patients in their final stages of life in Iran. The aim of the present study is to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses about delivering hospice care for End of Life (EOL) patients.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 with a sample size of 200 nurses that were selected by convenient (available) sampling.

Relationship between job satisfaction and performance of primary care physicians after the family physician reform of east Azerbaijan province in Northwest Iran.

Background: Following the implementation of family physician program in 2004 in Iranian healthcare system, the understanding in changes in physicians' practice has become important.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the level of family physicians' job satisfaction and its relationship with their performance level.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all 367 family physicians of East Azerbaijan province in during December 2009 to May 2011 using a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire for job satisfaction.

Effectiveness of presence of physician and midwife in quantity and quality of family planning services in health care centers.

Background And Aim: Iran's health sector has been engaging the services of physicians and midwives in healthcare centers since 2005, with the hope of improving the quantity and quality of family planning services. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of serving physicians and midwives on the quantity and quality of family planning services in the healthcare centers of Iran.

Materials And Methods: The present cross-sectional study (Jan 2010 until Sep 2011) was carried out on 600 eligible families who were clients of healthcare centers of Tabriz, Azarshahr and Osku, cities of Northwest Iran from 2006 until 2011, in two groups (before and after).

Antenatal Micronutrient Supplementation Relationship with Children's Weight and Height from Birth up to the Age of 18 Months.

Background: Maternal nutritional is the most important environmental factor influencing pregnancy outcome. While studies showed association between maternal iron-micronutrient deficiencies with pregnancy outcome, data examining impact of micronutrient supplementation on growth rate beyond birth are sparse. Present study examined the relationship between iron and multivitamins supplementation on growth rate of babies up to age of 18 month.

Exposure assessment to dust and free silica for workers of Sangan iron ore mine in Khaf, Iran.

We aimed to conduct an exposure assessment to dust and free silica for workers of Sangan iron ore mine in Khaf, Iran. The maximum concentrations of total dust and free silica were measured in crusher machine station at 801 ± 155 and 26 ± 7 mg/m(3), respectively. Meanwhile, the minimum concentrations were measured in official and safeguarding station at 8.

Cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms in Iranian patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Several genes coding for different cytokines may affect host susceptibility to tuberculosis.

Methods: In the present study, the allele and genotype frequencies of a number polymorphic genes coding for cytokines or cytokine receptors were investigated in Iranian patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Results: From the IL-1 cluster, a positive, significant difference was found at position -889, where the T/T genotype was over represented in PTB patients (p = 0.