Search

In this paper, we propose an energy efficient approximate multiplier design obtained by truncating the input operands. In the structure, the n-bit multiplication operation is transformed to a smaller bit length multiplication plus some add and shift operations. The simple calculation core makes the multiplier a scalable yet low power structure. Also, we suggest an output quality-tunable multiplier providing ability to change the output quality during the multiplication operation. The characteristics of the proposed multiplier are compared with those of the exact and some other approximate multipliers in a 45 nm technology. The comparison reveals an average improvement of 89.2% (74.9%) in terms of the energy (area) compared to that of the exact multiplier. The utility of the proposed multiplier in a JPEG encoder application is also investigated. The results reveal that the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) reduction is at most 0.15 dB compared to that of the exact one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advances in science and technology and the changes in lifestyle have changed the concept of health in terms of etiology and mortality. The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the original Patient Self-Advocacy Scale for use with an Iranian population. Methods: In the current study, 50 chronic patients between the ages of 25 and 75 were selected as samples. This study was conducted in May 2013 at Bou Ali Sina Hospital in Sari. The translation process and cultural adaptation of the Patient Self-Advocacy Scale were conducted. The face validity and content validity of the instrument were formally verified by analyzing the feedback of patients and health professionals. In order to evaluate questionnaire's reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for each item and each domain; and the Cronbach's alpha was calculated for the entire instruments and each domain. Results: Of the 50 patients participating in the study, 36% were male and 64% were female. The mean age of the patients was 42.5. To comply with the Iranian culture and the study target population, slight changes were applied to the process of translation and validation. In the present study, intraclass correlation coefficient for each item was 0.8-1, which demonstrates excellent reliability of the questionnaire. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.75 for overall scale. Conclusion: The Persian version of Patient Self-Advocacy Scale was valid and reliable. Hence, it can be used by public health researchers and health system policy makers for programming and offering patient-oriented health services based on patients' comments, needs, and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main component of organizational policy formulation and implementation is performance design and appraisal, which makes the system intelligent and motivates people to exhibit desirable behavior. As a result, this systematic review summarizes current knowledge about performance appraisal models in Iranian county health centers. From 2002 to 2020, 13 electronic databases and search engines were searched for relevant keywords in the current study. The obtained English or Persian health articles were then discussed. The CASP checklist was used to assess the quality of all articles. 13 articles with relevant titles, abstracts, and texts were reviewed out of a total of 2400 articles. According to the findings of this study, the performance appraisal model's components include health improvement, accountability and fairness in financial participation, financing, service provision, resource production, and stewardship. Performance evaluation of health care systems assists health decision makers and politicians in holding themselves accountable for their actions, allowing them to make better decisions to improve their actions. As a result, it is possible to improve the performance of inefficient health centers in a more appropriate manner by better managing health center personnel and utilizing their power. Because the development and implementation of a health center performance appraisal model can improve the delivery of health services, their use must be carefully planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations urgently need evaluation in order to be aware of the desirability and quality of their activities, especially in complex and dynamic environments. The aim of this study was to determine the effective factors on the performance evaluation of Iranian health centers in 2020. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on 88 managers, deputies, physicians, and experts working in the headquarters of health deputy and health centers of the township in Ahvaz (Khuzistan province, Southwest of Iran), Lorestan, and Ilam (West of Iran) provinces. We used two questionnaires to collect data. The first included demographic variables and the second was a researcher-designed questionnaire to determine the effective factors on the performance evaluation of health centers. Finally, Univariate and Multivariable Linear Regression model was used for data analysis by SPSS 24 software. The number of men was 50%. The most people were in the age group of 41-45 and 46-50 years with 23.9% and 30.7%, respectively, and the factors of planning was P= 0.122. Resource management p=0.119, combined index (P=0.200), information technology (p=0.132), customer satisfaction (P=0.327), education and empowerment (p=0.191), dealing with the crisis (P=0.344), committees, working groups (P=0.223), research and creativity (P=0.216) were in order the most important predictors of performance evaluation in Iranian health centers. All of the above factors are important predictors for performance evaluation in health centers. Therefore, paying attention to these factors in the performance evaluation of Iranian health centers seems to be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducction. Strategic purchasing is an important component of financing in the health system. It can enhance productivity, justice, and accountability in the health care delivery in case of considering the quality. This study, which was conducted as a systematic review, was aimed at investigating the status of quality in five domains of strategic purchasing in the health system to answer what, for whom, from whom, how to buy, and how much to buy. Material and Methods: This study systematically reviewed the articles published in the databases of Web of Sciences (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, Medline via Ovid, Embase from 2000 to October 2019. The keywords used to search the databases included the following: Health Care Sector, Delivery of Health Care, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Strategic Purchasing. A total of 182 articles were selected and reviewed by four researchers. Articles with irrelevant content were excluded. Data of the selected articles were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: Of the 182 articles collected through searching the selected databases, 16 articles were analyzed. Based on the results of this study, strategic purchasing in the health system results in the delivery of services with higher quality. Conclusion: Strategic purchasing can enhance the performance of the health system through choosing the most appropriate provider and the most appropriate payment method, along with equity in providing quality health care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most important functions of municipalities as a public institution is to provide, maintain and promote the health of citizens. To improve the health of the community, we need to understand the function of the municipality in countries that affect the health and well-being of the population. Material and methods: This study is a comparative-descriptive study. After searching for databases and authoritative sources and documents, related research was introduced into the study. Considering the performance of municipalities in the provision of health services, 7 countries were selected as statistical samples. Finally, the comparative attitudes of selected countries based on the role of municipalities in providing health services, macroeconomic indicators and health economics were tabulated, compared and compared. Results: The municipalities of the selected countries in the provision of health services have been made in the form of four process factors, context, content and stakeholders, among which the health system infrastructure, government form, the degree of rehabilitation and the council system are considered as effective factors in the provision of health services. Conclusion: Development of cities and disproportionate facilities with the population, providing appropriate health services to the people is not possible except with the participation of all sectors, especially urban management. An overview of the experiences of the studied countries shows that the municipalities also play a key role in the development of the city as well as in the area of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]