Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26673175›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of health policy and management2015

Application of Quality Assurance Strategies in Diagnostics and Clinical Support Services in Iranian Hospitals.

Asgar Aghaei Hashjin, Dionne Kringos, Hamid Ravaghi, Jila Manoochehri, Hassan Abolghasem Gorji, Niek S Klazinga

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Article in International journal of health policy and management, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Asgar Aghaei HashjinDepartment of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dionne KringosDepartment of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Hamid RavaghiDepartment of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Jila ManoochehriDepartment of Quality Improvement, Tehran Heart Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Hassan Abolghasem GorjiDepartment of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Niek S KlazingaDepartment of Public Health, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Iran University of Medical Sciences · IRUniversity of Amsterdam · NLImprovement Service · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIran has a widespread diagnostics and clinical support services (DCSS) network that plays a crucial role in providing diagnostic and clinical support services to both inpatient and outpatient care. However, very little is known on the application of quality assurance (QA) policies in DCSS units. This study explores the extent of application of eleven QA strategies in DCSS units within Iranian hospitals and its association with hospital characteristics.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009/2010. Data were collected from 554 DCSS units among 84 hospitals.

resultsThe average reported application rate for the QA strategies ranged from 57%-94% in the DCSS units. Most frequently reported were checking drugs expiration dates (94%), pharmacopoeia availability (92%), equipment calibration (87%) and identifying responsibilities (86%). Least reported was external auditing of the DCSS (57%). The clinical chemistry and microbiology laboratories (84%), pharmacies, blood bank services (83%) reported highest average application rates across all questioned QA strategies. Lowest application rates were reported in human tissue banks (50%). There was no significant difference between the reported application rates in DCSS in the general/specialized, teaching/research, nonteaching/research hospitals with the exception of pharmacies and radiology departments. They reported availability of a written QA plan significantly more often in research hospitals. Nearly all QA strategies were reported to be applied significantly more often in the DCSS of Social Security Organization (SSO) and private-for-profit hospitals than in governmental hospitals.

conclusionThere is still room for strengthening the managerial cycle of QA systems and accountability in the DCSS in Iranian hospitals. Getting feedback, change and learning through application of specific QA strategies (eg, external/internal audits) can be improved. Both the effectiveness of QA strategies in practice, and the application of these strategies in outpatient DCSS units require further policy attention.

Indexed as

Cross-Sectional StudiesHealth Services ResearchHospitalsHumansIranQuality Assurance, Health CareQuality Indicators, Health CareDiagnostics and Clinical Support Services (DCSS)HospitalIranQuality Assurance (QA) StrategyQuality Improvement

Identifiers

PMID26673175
PMCPMC4594105
OpenAlexW1576244604

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.