Objective:Perceived service quality is the most important predictor of patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the service quality on the overall satisfaction of patients in private hospitals of Tehran, Iran.Method:This cross-sectional study was conducted in the year 2010. The study’s sample consisted of 969 patients who were recruited from eight private general hospitals in Tehran, Iran using consecutive sampling. A questionnaire was used for data collection; contacting 21 items (17 items about service quality and 4 items about overall satisfaction) and its validity and reliability were confirmed. Data analysis was performed using t-test, ANOVA and multivariate regression.Result:this study found a strong relationship between service quality and patient satisfaction. About 45% of the variance in overall satisfaction was explained by four dimensions of perceived service quality. The cost of services, the quality of the process and the quality of interaction had the greatest effects on the overall satisfaction of patients, but not found a significant effect on the quality of the physical environment on patient satisfaction.Conclusions:Constructs related to costs, delivery of service and interpersonal aspect of care had the most positive impact on overall satisfaction of patients. Managers and owners of private hospitals should set reasonable prices compared to the quality of service. In terms of process quality, waiting time for visits, admissions, and surgeries must be declined and services provided at the fastest possible time. It should be emphasized to strengthen of interpersonal aspects of care and communication skills of care providers.

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Background: Every educational institution requires an evaluation system in order to find out about the quality and desirability of its activities, especially if it is a complex and dynamic environment. The present study was conducted to evaluate the educational performance of schools affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences to help improve their performance. Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted in six schools affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences in April 2016-October 2016 and October 2016-April 2017. The evaluation was carried out in two stages: self-assessment by service executives across schools, and external assessment in person by the university’s expert staff. The study tools included the components, criteria and desirable standards of educational performance in ten categories. Data were analyzed in SPSS. Results: The results obtained showed that, in April-October 2016, the highest performance evaluation scores pertained to the "secure testing" and "rules and regulations" components and the lowest to the "packages for reform and innovation in education" and "the school action plan" components. In October 2016-April 2017, the highest scores pertained to "workforce empowerment" and "secure testing" and the lowest to "faculty affairs" and "electronic education management system". Conclusions: Offering a balanced portrayal of the actual performance of schools using the right performance indicators in two consecutive periods can help further motivate the superior schools and encourage the weaker schools to strive harder. Competition among schools to get a higher score in the components affecting medical education helps mobilize them to move toward reform and improvement.

Background: In today’s world as the globe of organizations, employees tend to show endeavor and more involvement in organizational goals and mission by creating workplace spirituality. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the role of workplace spirituality in improving hospital social worker’s motivation. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design and was conducted in 19 private and governmental hospitals in Karaj city, Alborz province, north Iran in 2019. The statistical population included all 302 hospital social workers who were selected as the sample population according to Cochran’s formula. Using two standard questionnaires of workplace spirituality and employee motivation, we assessed the role of workplace spirituality in improving the hospital’ social workers’ motivation. Results: According to research findings, there were significant relationships between workplace spirituality, meaningful working, sense of community, forgiveness, and honesty with hospital social workers motivation p ⩽ .05. There was a significant difference between age group, gender, level of education and workplace spirituality, and motivation of hospital social workers p ⩽ .05. Conclusion: Findings suggest that health planners and authorities may need to examine factors that contribute to the promotion of workplace spirituality to increase the motivation of hospital social workers for improved performance of health organizations.

Background: Substance abuse is a chronic phenomenon that affects many physical, psychological, social, familial and economic elements. Objective: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effectiveness of gratitude on individual's well-being as well as the quality of life (QoL) of hospitalized substance abuse patients. Methods: The current study was clinical trial study. The research was conducted on 64 addicted patient which had been referred to the addiction rehabilitation center (Modarres hospital) of Isfahan city, that divided to two groups that each one included 32 patients.GQ-6, WHOQOL, and WHO-6 questionnaires used for estimate of gratitude, QoL, and well-being scores respectively. The SPSS 16 software was used for analyzing the collected data. Results: There is a relationship between gratitude, well-being, and QoL after the intervention in two groups of the study while there is no any significant difference between these variables before the intervention. Also, there were significant correlation between the gratitude, QoL, and well-being pre and post follow up of patients. Conclusion: It seems that gratitude improves and increased of QoL and psychological well-being during addiction treatment program.