International journal of health policy and management
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Int J Health Policy Manag · May 2014
Does tuberculosis have a seasonal pattern among migrant population entering Iran?
There are few quantitative documents about the seasonal incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among immigrant populations. Concerning the significant role of recognizing seasonal changes of TB in improving the TB control program, this study determines the trend and seasonal temporal changes of TB among immigrants entering Iran. ⋯ This study shows that immigrants constitute a significant portion of TB patients recorded in Iran and this trend is increasing. Also, the peak incidence of this disease is the second month of the spring.
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Int J Health Policy Manag · May 2014
Toward more compassionate healthcare systems Comment on "Enabling compassionate healthcare: perils, prospects and perspectives".
Compassion is central to the purpose of medicine and the care of patients and their families. Compassionate healthcare begins with compassionate people, but cannot be consistently provided without systemic changes that enable clinicians and staff to collaborate and to care. We propose seven essential commitments to foster more compassionate healthcare organizations and systems: a commitment to compassionate leadership, to teach compassion, to value and reward compassionate care, to support clinical caregivers, to involve and partner with patients and families, to build compassion into the organization of healthcare delivery, and a commitment to deepen our understanding of compassion and its impact through research. Acting on these commitments will help us attend with care to the ill, injured, and vulnerable in every interaction.
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Int J Health Policy Manag · Jan 2014
A grand convergence in mortality is possible: comment on Global Health 2035.
The grand challenge in global health is the inequality in mortality and life expectancy between countries and within countries. According to Global Health 2035, the Lancet Commission celebrating the 20(th) anniversary of the World Development Report (WDR) of 1993, the world now has the unique opportunity to achieve a grand convergence in global mortality within a generation. This article comments on the main findings and recommendations of the Global Health 2035.
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Int J Health Policy Manag · Aug 2013
Reasons for Discharge against Medical Advice: A Case Study of Emergency Departments in Iran.
Incomplete hospitalization is the cause of disease relapse, readmission, and increase in medical costs. Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) in emergency department (ED) is critical for hospitals. This paper aims to explore the underlying reasons behind DAMA in ED of four teaching hospitals in Kerman, Iran. ⋯ In comparison to studies conducted in other countries, the rate of DAMA is markedly higher in Iran. The results revealed that patients awareness of the consequences of their decisions is evidently inadequate. The study suggests a number of recommendations. These include, increasing patient awareness of the potential side effects of DAMA and creating the necessary culture for this, improving hospital facilities, and a more careful supervision of medical staff performance.
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Int J Health Policy Manag · Aug 2013
Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: not a "holy grail" but a cup at least half comment on "food taxes: a new holy grail?".
In this commentary, we argue for the implementation of a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax as a tool to help address the global obesity and diabetes epidemics. Consumption of SSBs has increased exponentially over the last several decades, a trend that has been an important contributor to the obesity and diabetes epidemics. ⋯ Further, this tax is unlikely to have effects on income inequality and should not contribute to weight-based discrimination. A SSB tax also should raise revenue for government entities that already pay, through health care expenditures and health programs, for the consequences of excess SSB consumption.