Evaluation methods used on health information systems (HISs) in Iran and the effects of HISs on Iranian healthcare: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
The most important goal of a health information system (HIS) is improvement of quality, effectiveness and efficiency of health services. To achieve this goal, health care systems should be evaluated continuously. The aim of this paper was to study the impacts of HISs in Iran and the methods used for their evaluation.


METHODS
We systematically searched all English and Persian papers evaluating health information systems in Iran that were indexed in SID, Magiran, Iran medex, PubMed and Embase databases until June 2013. A data collection form was designed to extract required data such as types of systems evaluated, evaluation methods and tools.


RESULTS
In this study, 53 out of 1103 retrieved articles were selected as relevant and reviewed by the authors. This study indicated that 28 studies used questionnaires to evaluate the system and in 27 studies the study instruments were distributed within a research population. In 26 papers the researchers collected the information by means of interviews, observations, heuristic evaluation and the review of documents and records. The main effects of the evaluated systems in health care settings were improving quality of services, reducing time, increasing accessibility to information, reducing costs and decreasing medical errors.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of health information systems is central to their development and enhancement, and to understanding their effect on health and health services. Despite numerous evaluation methods available, the reviewed studies used a limited number of methods to evaluate HIS. Additionally, the studies mainly discussed the positive effects of HIS on health care services.
Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Health Information Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Health Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: ahmadianle@yahoo.com.
Leila
L
Ahmadian
Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: s_salehinejad@yahoo.com.
Simin Salehi
SS
Nejad
Research Center for Health Services Management, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Health Information Management and Technology, Faculty of Management and Health Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: r.khajouei@yahoo.com.
Reza
R
Khajouei
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D063005:Health Information Systems; D007492:Iran; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*
Evaluation; Health information systems; Hospital information systems; Medical informatics; Performance; Qualitative research