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Purpose: This study aims to develop a comprehensive model for performance improvement management among educational group managers by identifying critical factors and components that influence managerial effectiveness in educational settings. Methodology: The research adopts a descriptive-survey methodology, with a statistical population comprising 400 educational group managers from Islamic Azad University in Tehran. Using the Morgan table, a sample of 196 participants was randomly selected. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) based on an exploratory factor analysis approach with LISREL software. Validity was assessed using composite reliability (CR) and Cronbach's alpha, with additional evaluations through Bartlett's test and KMO measure. Findings: The analysis identified six significant factors affecting performance improvement management: continuous monitoring and evaluation (R = .67, t = 9.56), knowledge management (R = .58, t = 8.27), professional development (R = .61, t = 8.70), empowerment (R = .89, t = 13.12), professional ethics (R = .71, t = 15.81), and managerial role (R = .69, t = 9.85). These factors encompass 25 specific components, such as planning, educational needs assessment, knowledge sharing, self-development skills, cognitive support, and strategic planning ability, all demonstrating significant factor loadings (p < .001). Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of structured and continuous management practices in educational settings. Emphasizing continuous monitoring, effective knowledge management, professional development, empowerment, ethical standards, and strong managerial roles can significantly enhance the performance of educational group managers. These insights provide a robust framework for educational institutions to improve their management strategies and achieve better organizational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the important causes of medical errors and unintentional harm to patients is ineffective communication. The important part of this skill, in case it has been forgotten, is listening. The objective of this study was to determine whether managers in hospitals listen actively. Methods: This study was conducted between May and June 2014 among three levels of managers at teaching hospitals in Kerman, Iran. Active Listening skill among hospital managers was measured by self-made Active Listening Skill Scale (ALSS), which consists of the key elements of active listening and has five subscales, i.e., Avoiding Interruption, Maintaining Interest, Postponing Evaluation, Organizing Information, and Showing Interest. The data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS software, version 20, and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, the chi-squared test, and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean score of active listening in hospital managers was 2.32 out of 3.The highest score (2.27) was obtained by the first-level managers, and the top managers got the lowest score (2.16). Hospital mangers were best in showing interest and worst in avoiding interruptions. The area of employment was a significant predictor of avoiding interruption and the managers' gender was a strong predictor of skill in maintaining interest (p < 0.05). The type of management and education can predict postponing evaluation, and the length of employment can predict showing interest (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a necessity for the development of strategies to create more awareness among the hospital managers concerning their active listening skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motorcycle crashes are the cause of severe morbidity and mortality especially because of head injuries. It seems that wearing a helmet has an effective role in protection against head injuries. Nevertheless, motorcyclists usually have no tendency to wear a helmet when driving in cities and have several reasons for this behavior., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the use and reasons for not using a helmet by motorcyclists admitted to an emergency ward of a trauma hospital due to accident in Kerman, Iran., Patients and Methods: This study was carried out by recoding the opinions of motorcyclists who had been transferred to the emergency ward of Shahid Bahonar Hospital (Kerman/Iran). Since no data was available on the frequency of the use of helmets, a pilot study was carried out and a sample size of 377 was determined for the main study. Then a researcher-made questionnaire was used to investigate the motorcyclists' reasons for not using a helmet., Results: Only 21.5% of the motorcyclists had been wearing helmets at the time of the accident. The most frequent reasons for not using a helmet were the heavy weight of the helmet (77%), feeling of heat (71.4%), pain in the neck (69.4%), feeling of suffocation (67.7%), limitation of head and neck movements (59.6%) and all together, physical discomfort was the main cause of not wearing a helmet during motorcycle rides., Conclusions: In general, it appears that it is possible to increase the use of helmets by eliminating its physical problems, and increasing the knowledge of community members in relation to the advantages of helmet use, which will result in a significant decrease in traumas resulting from motorcycle accidents.