title: Casemix in the Islamic Republic of Iran: current knowledge and attitudes of health care staff.
abstract: Casemix is a tool that classifies patients according to their clinical similarity and the homogeneity of resources required. A descriptive study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and attitude toward the casemix-based funding system among staff working in the Iranian Social Security Organization in Tehran. The survey showed that knowledge of casemix and diagnosis-related groups (DRG) was poor among the study group and any attempt to implement the casemix system--which about three-quarters of high-level staff had never heard of--would be likely to fail. This highlights the necessity for creating awareness of the casemix and DRG systems among the hospital staff before any action takes place.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. sghaffari2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003363:Cost Control; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D012943:Social Security; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population