title: Evaluating performance of the operational managers of obstetrics and gynecology service providing wards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of hospitals, as the most important health care providing centers, is to improve the health level of the society. Achieving this goal is directly related with performance of the managers. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of operational managers of obstetrics and gynecology service providing wards from the point of view of the staff at educational hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive study, target population comprised all supervisors and the staff working at obstetrics and gynecology and maternity wards. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire after evaluation of its reliability and validity using questions on managerial performance (planning, organizing, leadership, and control dimensions) and demographic characteristics of the managers and staff. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one sample t-test, Spearman and Pearson coefficient tests, and one-way analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total mean score of staff's point of view toward performance of managers' performance was significantly higher than the average level (P< 0.001,t= 13.2). In addition, mean scores of managerial performance in planning (P< 0.001,t= 14.93), organizing (P< 0.001,t= 11.64), leadership (P< 0.001,t= 11.16), and control (P< 0.001,t= 13.75) dimensions were significantly higher than the moderate level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With respect to the fact that maintaining and improving the health of mothers and neonates depends on the management and managers' performance in obstetrics and gynecology service providing wards, more than moderate managers' performance need to be improved. It is recommended that higher-level managers pay special attention to the empowerment of managerial skills among operational managers.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Parvaresh
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health, Women's Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehsanpour
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Haniye Sadat
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sajadi
keywords: Head nurses; Iran; management; managers; obstetrics and gynecology wards; performance