title: A comparison of substance dependence treatment information system in America, England, and Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Addiction, as a social problem, is a phenomenon that causes structural changes in cultural, social, political, and economic system in society. Prevention of this problem means decrease of risk factors and increase of protective factors; and recognition of these factors is possible with the help of update, accurate, and complete information in information systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare substance dependence treatment information system (SDTIS) in America, England, and Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This research was an applied and comparison-descriptive study, in which SDTIS was compared in America, England, and Iran. These countries were chosen based on available information on the Internet and also on the development of these countries in the health information management field. Information resources included library resources, electronic resources, and expert people (Health Information Management, Medical Records Education, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, and Medical Informatics). The data collection tool was the data raw form, whose reliability was proved by expert people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Findings were analyzed by theory and descriptive method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  America and England had the SDTIS. Their systems had special characteristics such as goals, scope, special method for collecting, processing, reporting, quality and validity control, and confidentiality principles. However, there was no such system in Iran and the present situation in Iran has many differences with similar situations in the studied countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of an information system in the substance dependence treatment field helps to prevent, control, and treat addicted people. Hence, we try to submit a suitable model for implementing this system.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Health Information Technology and Management, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajami
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mellat-Karkevandi
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saghaeiannejad-Isfahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahanbakhsh
keywords: Information system; psychoactive substances; substance dependence; substance dependence treatment