Does outsourcing paramedical departments of teaching hospitals affect educational status of the students?
BACKGROUND
There is an increasing trend of outsourcing public departments. Teaching hospitals also outsourced some of their departments to private sectors. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the educational status of students in public and outsourced departments of teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences.


METHODS
This study was conducted in six teaching hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences, which had public and outsourced teaching departments in 2015. One hundred fifty students from the departments of radiology, physiotherapy and laboratory participated in this study and their perceptions about their educational status were assessed. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used; participation in the study was voluntary. Descriptive statistics such as mean (SD), t-test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov were used.


RESULTS
No difference was detected between the educational status of students in public and outsourced departments of radiology, physiotherapy and laboratory (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the students' perception, the private sectors could maintain the educational level of the teaching departments similar to the public departments. It is recommended to involve all the stakeholders such as hospital administrators, academic staff and students in the decision- making process when changes in teaching environments are being considered.
PhD of Health Services Administration, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, & Manager of Public Private Partnership Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. shandizmoslehi@yahoo.com.
Shandiz
S
Moslehi
MSc of Psychology, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. pezhman_ata54@yahoo.com.
Pezhman
P
Atefimanesh
MSc in Public Administration, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. sarabi.a@iums.ac.ir .
Ali
A
Sarabi Asiabar
MS of Management System and Efficiency, Deputy of Health in Social Affairs, Management and Planning Organization, Tehran, Iran. nahalahmadzadeh@yahoo.com.
Nahal
N
Ahmadzadeh
Health Management and Economics Research Center, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mehrpik_babol@yahoo.com.
Mohamadhosein
M
Kafaeimehr
Assistant Professor, Shomal University, Babol, Iran. gholizadehsaeidQgmail.com.
Saeid
S
Emamgholizadeh
Education; Outsourcing; Public Private Partnership; Teaching Hospitals
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