Social Security Organization Research Articles

A tale of two times: an exploration of healthcare utilization patterns before and during COVID-19 in Iran

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global healthcare utilization patterns. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on utilization rate of healthcare services in Iran.MethodIn this quasi-experimental study, data on the utilization rates of laboratory services, sonography exams, CT scans, MRIs, and EKGs was collected from the Social Security Organization (SSO)’s insurance information system. This data, covering 47 months prior to the pandemic and 25 months during it, was analyzed to assess the pandemic’s impact on healthcare utilization among insured individuals in Iran. The data was categorized into direct, indirect, and total sectors, and an Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) model was employed for data analysis, examining both total and sector-specific utilization rates.Findings: The study for single group indicated that in the total sector, Utilization rate per 1000 insured significantly decreased by 25.25 for laboratory services, decreased by 3.99 for sonography, decreased by 1.08 for MRIs and decreased by 1.01 for EKGs, but increased by 2.28 for CT scans in the first pandemic month. Over following months, monthly utilization trends per 1000 insured increased significantly- laboratory services + 1.08, sonography + 0.11, CT scans + 0.12, MRIs + 0.06, and EKGs + 0.05. Pre-pandemic, monthly utilization per 1000 insured was 62.68 labs, 14.47 sonography, 0.72 CT scans, 2.06 MRIs, with all significantly higher in the indirect over direct sector except EKGs which were 2.08 higher in the direct sector. In the first pandemic month, there were significant between-sector differences per 1000 of -4.4 for sonography, + 1.89 CT scans, -1.01 MRIs and + 1.29 EKGs.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in healthcare service utilization, particularly in total and direct sectors, while CT scans remained unaffected. To address these challenges and meet patient needs, Iran’s health system should adopt alternative delivery methods like telemedicine.

Household financial burden associated with out-of-pocket payments for healthcare in Iran: insights from a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundOne of the key functions and ultimate goals of health systems is to provide financial protection for individuals when using health services. This study sought to evaluate the level of financial protection and its inequality among individuals covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO) health insurance between September and December 2023 in Iran.MethodsWe collected data on 1691 households in five provinces using multistage sampling to examine the prevalence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) at four different thresholds (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) of the household’s capacity to pay (CTP). Additionally, we explored the prevalence of impoverishment due to health costs and assessed socioeconomic-related inequality in OOP payments for healthcare using the concentration index and concentration curve. To measure equity in out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare, we utilized the Kakwani progressivity index (KPI). Furthermore, we employed multiple logistic regression to identify the main factors contributing to households experiencing CHE.Findings: The study revealed that households in our sample allocated approximately 11% of their budgets to healthcare services. The prevalence of CHE at the thresholds of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% was found to be 47.1%, 30.1%, 20.1%, and 15.7%, respectively. Additionally, we observed that about 7.9% of the households experienced impoverishment due to health costs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the age of the head of the household, place of residence, socioeconomic status, utilization of dental services, utilization of medicine, and province of residence were the main factors influencing CHE. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that while wealthy households spend more money on healthcare, poorer households spend a larger proportion of their total income to healthcare costs. The KPI showed that households with lower total expenditures had higher OOP payments relative to their CTP.ConclusionThe study findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve financial protection in healthcare and mitigate inequalities among individuals covered by SSO. It is recommended that these interventions prioritize the expansion of coverage for dental services and medication expenses, particularly for lower socioeconomic status household.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Experiences of Implementation of Accreditation and the ISO 9001 Programs in Hospitals of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: Accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals are widely adopted for quality control and quality improvement in healthcare. Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences regarding the implementation of accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals affiliated with the Social Security Organization in Alborz Province, Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study, participants were selected based on purposive sampling. For data collection, semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with hospital staff in different positions (n = 30). All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Based on the analysis, 10 primary themes and 88 subthemes were identified. The 10 primary themes were categorized as experiences, strengths, weaknesses, effective factors, and recommendations for the implementation of accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals. Proper planning, benchmarking, physician involvement, increased resources, and more training are suggested for the successful implementation of accreditation in hospitals. Additionally, fostering a positive culture, focusing on the executive dimension, changing managerial attitudes, training, and supporting and motivating staff are the most important recommendations for the implementation of the ISO 9001 program. Conclusions: The results provide important insights into the dimensions of implementing accreditation and ISO programs in hospitals, which can be used by health policymakers and managers to improve the implementation of these programs in Iranian hospitals.

Effectiveness of a Health Belief Model-based Educational Intervention on Treatment Adherence Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Insights from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Iran

Background: Diabetes is a significant and costly health problem worldwide, requiring effective interventions to improve adherence. The aim of this study was to increase treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes using constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: An educational intervention consisting of four sessions was conducted on 100 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the Diabetes Clinic affiliated with the Social Security Organization in Mobarakeh, Isfahan province, Iran. The mean difference before and after the intervention in HBM constructs and self-efficacy activities was compared using independent t-tests. The association between self-care behaviors before and after the educational intervention in both groups and the expected value of a part of the HBM was examined using linear regression. The threshold for statistical significance was P<0.05. Results: After the intervention, the mean difference scores for all components of the HBM and self-efficacy increased significantly in the intervention group. In linear regression analysis, perceived vulnerability was the only variable that showed a direct and significant relationship with self-care in the intervention group. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that patient education improved all HBM constructs related to treatment adherence. This underscores the importance and effectiveness of self-care education in controlling blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.

Time series analysis of COVID-19's impact on physician and dentist visits in Iran

This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general practitioner (GP), specialist, and dentist visits among 40 million Iranians covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO). A monthly interrupted time series analysis was conducted over a period of 72 months, including—47 months before the pandemic and 25 months after its onset. The outcomes variables were monthly number of GP, specialist, and dentist visits per 1000 SSO-insured individuals. The analysis was performed by total visits, visits to the SSO direct sector, and visits to the indirect sectors. The study found that in the first month of the pandemic, the number of visits per 1000 insured individuals significantly decreased for visits to GPs (by 51.12, 95% CI −64.42 to −37.88), visits to specialists (by 39.11, 95% CI −51.61 to −26.62), and visits to dentists (by 6.67, 95% CI −8.55 to −4.78). However, during the subsequent months of the pandemic, there was a significant increase in the number of monthly visits for all three categories, with GPs experiencing the highest increase (1.78 visits per 1000 insured), followed by specialists (1.32 visits per 1000 insured), and dentists (0.05 visits per 1000 insured). Furthermore, prior to the pandemic, the number of monthly GP visits per 1000 insured individuals was statistically significantly lower in the indirect sector compared to the direct sector (45.79, 95% CI −52.69 to −38.89). Conversely, the direct sector exhibited lower rates of specialist visits (25.84 visits per 1000 insured individuals, 95% CI 22.87 to 28.82) and dentist visits (0.75 visits per 1000 insured individuals, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.36) compared to the indirect sector. Additionally, the study found that in the first month of the pandemic, the monthly number of GP visits in the indirect sector significantly increased by 34.44 times (95% CI 24.81 to 44.08) compared to the direct sector. For specialist visits and dentist visits, the increase was 3.41 (95% CI −5.87 to 12.69) and 5.01 (95% CI 3.48 to 6.53) per 1000 insured individuals, respectively. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate statistically significant disruptions in GP, specialist, and dentist visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, although some recovery was observed. Both the direct and indirect sectors experienced decreased visits.

Work-related Road Traffic Crashes in Malaysia: A Comparison between Fatal and Temporary Injury Cases

Introduction: Work-related road traffic crashes have significant implications for both employers and employees, leading to devastating consequences such as fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Despite the increasing focus on road safety research, little attention has been given to identifying factors associated with work-related road crashes. This paper explores and compares the characteristics of fatal cases (FOT) with the characteristics of temporary injury cases (HUS) in work-related road traffic crashes. Materials and methods: Seven years of work-related road crash claim compensation data between 2014 and 2020 was obtained from the Social Security Organization (SOCSO). A total of 546 cases were involved, including 56 FOT and 490 HUS cases. Categorical data analysis techniques were employed to examine the distinctions between FOT and HUS cases. Results: The results indicate a lower representation of transportation sectors in FOT cases, with the corresponding odds approximately 84% lower. Conversely, small and middle enterprises exhibit an odds ratio of about 5.1 times higher in FOT compared to HUS cases. Conclusion: The findings from this study can serve as proactive measures for employers in addressing work-related road traffic crashes. This includes enhancing road safety awareness programs specifically focusing on groups engaged in nighttime shifts and those involved in sending and pickup duties. Considering the distinct risk profiles of large enterprises versus small and medium enterprises, future studies are necessary to clarify the effectiveness of the road safety initiatives undertaken by both types of enterprises.

Intrahospital Mortality Rate after the Implementation of the Second Phase of the Health Sector Reform in Comparison with Before that in Iran.

The second phase of the health sector reform, called the Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP), has been implemented in Iran since 2014, aims to improve the equity and quality of health services. In the present study, we aimed to measure the trend of hospitalization and the crude intrahospital mortality rate from 1 year before the HSEP implementation (2013) to 5 years after the HSEP implementation (2018) in public hospitals compared with profit, nonprofit, and charity hospitals, which are affiliated with the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (MUI). In a prospective, cross-sectional study, the data related to the frequency of hospitalized patients and intrahospital mortality during the time of hospitalization were collected through census sampling from 39 public hospitals as the exposed hospitals and 20 profit, nonprofit, and charity hospitals as the control hospitals. After HSEP implementation, the frequency of hospitalization increased in public hospitals by 50.45% compared with the previous period. Although the crude intrahospital mortality rate increased from 12.61 to 12.93 per 1000 hospitalized patients (an increase of 2.54%) in public hospitals, the raise was not significant (P value = 0.348). The frequency of hospitalization increased in Social Security Organization's (SSO) hospitals as well as charity hospitals. However, the percent of decrease in the intrahospital mortality rates were -42.96%, -34.76%, and -18.47% in the private, charity, and SSO hospitals, respectively, but was not significant (P value > 0.05). The crude intrahospital mortality rates in public hospitals affiliated with MUI did not change significantly after the implementation of the HSEP.

Design and Implementation of a Web-Based Self-Care Application for Patients with Kidney Stone Treated with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Background: The prevalence of kidney stones reduces the patients’ quality of life and imposes high costs on patients and health care system. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a safe procedure to treat urinary stones. Appropriate strategies such as self-care programs can effectively reduce the prevalence and recurrence of this disease, and increase quality of life, save costs, and prevent diseases by increasing patient participation. The aim of this study is to design and implement a web-based self-care application for patients with kidney stones undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Methods: This paper is an applied study and was performed in Sabalan Hospital in Ardabil affiliated to the Social Security Organization of Iran in three stages including needs assessment, design and evaluation. For needs assessment and application design, a questionnaire was designed by searching library resources. The questionnaire was completed by clinical specialists and specialists in health information management and information technology. Then, based on the approved information elements and capabilities, a web-based self-care application was designed. The usability of the designed program was evaluated with the participation of 20 users. Results: The results of the survey showed that the experts confirmed all the identified items and components, and considered them necessary. Users rated the usability of the self-care program at a good level with an average score of 7.9 out of 9. Conclusion: The usability of the self-care application was satisfactory to users in various areas of overall application performance, screen, terminology and information, learning and general impressions.

Comprehensive social and medical security for Ukrainian migrant workers: Degree of protection

AbstractLabour migration is one of the features of the modern labour market. The development of transport infrastructure, the spread of non‐standard forms of employment, the globalization of all spheres of human activity and the growing unevenness of territorial development led to an increase in the mobility of the economically active population. In addition, various environmental disasters or military actions, such as the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine in February 2022, have an impact on the spread of migration. Labour migration undoubtedly contributes to the redistribution of labour and the efficiency of human capital. At the same time, like most other manifestations of a flexible labour market, labour migration poses a threat to weakening the social protection of workers, and therefore requires new, non‐standard approaches to the organization of social security. Several scientific methods were used to conduct the study, including general scientific approaches such as dialectic, analysis, synthesis, abstraction and analogy. In addition, specific legal methods were used, in particular, formal legal, comparative legal and systemic‐structural approaches. The purpose of this article is to study the current state of legislation and state policy on the social security of labour migrants. The aim is to identify existing problems and develop recommendations for their solution with the ultimate goal of improving the social protection of labour migrants.

Institutional Ownership and Concentration of Capital in Pharmaceutical Companies: Evidence from Iran

Background: Institutional owners influence the direction of policy and the performance of owned companies. This research was motivated by the presence of pharmaceutical companies in the Tehran Stock Exchange and the uncertainty surrounding the extent and influence of institutional owners on the policy direction and performance of the companies. Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study. The descriptive phase of the study involved measuring sales figures, market value, and market share of pharmaceutical companies listed on the stock exchange. In the analytical phase, the network of shareholders' relationships was analyzed with Gephi version 0.1 and Microsoft Excel version 2016, followed by the calculation of the capital concentration index and market share. Results: Estimates indicated that approximately 45% of the pharmaceutical companies in Iran were publicly traded in stock exchange. In 2020, the total value of these companies in the Iranian capital market reached 9.79 billion USD. Out of this amount, 45% (equivalent to 4.4 billion USD) was offered in Tehran Stock Exchange. The concentration of final shareholders, with a Herfindahl–Hirschman index(HHI) index of 0.036, signified a monopolistic competition market. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical capital market could be classified as an oligopoly market (with a value of 58.3) when analyzing only the direct shareholders at level 2. Additionally, the six main holding companies at this level collectively possess 67% of the pharmaceutical capital market. Conclusion: Based on the results, the importance of institutional owners, such as the Social Security Organization (SSO), in the decision-making process regarding the Iranian pharmaceutical market can be acknowledged. The decisions about integration and supply chains which aimed at improving the productivity of the pharmaceutical market, need to be thoroughly examined by the institutions mentioned in this research.

Drug Prescription Indicators in Outpatient Services in Social Security Organization Facilities in Iran.

The aim of this study was to estimate drug prescription indicators in outpatient services provided at Iran Social Security Organization (SSO) healthcare facilities. Data on all prescribed drugs for outpatient visits from 2017 to 2018 were extracted from the SSO database. The data were categorized into 4 main subgroups: patient characteristics, provider characteristics, service characteristics, and type of healthcare facility. Logistic regression models were used to detect risk factors for inappropriate drug prescriptions. SPSS and IBM Modeler software were utilized for data analysis. In 2017, approximately 150 981 752 drug items were issued to outpatients referred to SSO healthcare facilities in Iran. The average number of drug items per outpatient prescription was estimated at 3.33. The proportion of prescriptions that included an injection was 17.5%, and the rate of prescriptions that included an antibiotic was 37.5%. Factors such as patient sex and age, provider specialty, type of facility, and time of outpatient visit were associated with the risk of inappropriate prescriptions. In this study, all drug prescription criteria exceeded the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization. To improve the current prescription patterns throughout the country, it would be beneficial to provide providers with monthly and annual reports and to consider implementing some prescription policies for physicians.

Future study of revenue sources in the social security organization with the scenario planning approach

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the drivers and future scenarios of Iran’s Social Security Organization.Design/methodology/approachThe research is applied in terms of orientation and mixed in terms of methodology. In this research, the methods of theme analysis, root definitions, fuzzy Delphi and Cocoso were used. The theoretical population is the managers and senior experts of the social security organization, and the sampling method was done in a judgmental way. The tools of data collection were interviews and questionnaires. The interview tool was used to extract the main and subdrivers of the research and develop the scenarios.FindingsThrough theme analysis, 35 subdrivers were extracted in the form of economic, sociocultural, financial and investment, policy, marketing, environmental and legal themes. Due to the large number of subdrivers, these factors were screened with fuzzy Delphi. Eleven drivers had defuzzied coefficient higher than 0.7 and were selected for final prioritization. The final drivers were prioritized with the CoCoSo technique, and the two drivers of social security holdings governance and state of government revenues had the highest priority. Based on these two drivers, four scenarios of prosperity, resilient social security, unstable development and collapse have been developed.Originality/valueSome of the suggestions of the research are: using the capacity of FinTechs and financial startups to invest the government revenues of the organization, using digital technologies such as business intelligence for more efficient decisions and developing corporate governance in the organization.

Pension policies and early retirement: New evidence from a counterfactual analysis in Iran

AbstractCompared to the global average, the exit rate of old-aged Iranian labourers is significantly higher than that of middle-aged, raising the hypothesis that social security generosity pulls older workers into early retirement. We used a unique individual dataset of Iran’s Social Security Organization (ISSO), including 267, 000 newly retired in 2016 and 2018, to assess the impact of ISSO’s pension policies on employees’ retirement age. In a counterfactual evaluation design, this study first estimated the implicit tax on work continuation and then applied the Heckman two-stage selection model. The findings show that ISSO’s retirement rules determining the age of exit and benefit eligibilities significantly increase the retirement probability and simultaneously decline the retirement age. Moreover, the implicit tax on work continuation, which reflects ISSO’s benefit formula, has a significant positive effect on retirement probability. The replacement rate also has a significant negative impact on retirement age. The retirement probability in hazardous jobs is higher than in normal ones, while exemptions significantly fall the outflow age of hazardous job holders. To maintain the scheme’s sustainability, reforms have to target an increase in the statutory retirement age, a reduction in the accrual rate, the calculation of reference salary for more extended periods, and the decline of the exemption coefficient for hazardous jobs.

Evaluating the Impacts of Retirement Age Reform on Financial Status of the Iranian Social Security Organization Using a Dynamic Microsimulation Model

Evaluating the Impacts of Retirement Age Reform on Financial Status of the Iranian Social Security Organization Using a Dynamic Microsimulation Model

Testing the Model for Enhancing Administrative Transparency in Interaction with E-Government Development Programs in the Social Security Organization

Objective: The aim of this research is to examine and test the model for enhancing administrative transparency in interaction with e-government development programs in the Social Security Organization. Methodology: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection method. Data were collected using a standardized researcher-made questionnaire. The statistical population in the quantitative section includes all employees of the Social Security Organization. The sampling method for the present study, considering the target population, is stratified sampling. Approximately 65,000 individuals are in the population, and based on Cochran's formula, a sample of 385 individuals was selected. Subsequently, the composite reliability and the reliability of each research component were calculated, with the results indicating the reliability of the measurement tool. Additionally, the divergent and convergent validity of the questionnaire suggests the validity of the instrument. For data analysis, structural equation modeling was employed using the Smart PLS4 software. Findings: The results indicate that e-government has a significant impact on the growth and development of the Social Security Organization. Administrative structure and processes significantly influence managerial oversight, public oversight, and public accountability. Environmental factors also significantly impact managerial oversight, public oversight, and public accountability. Furthermore, managerial factors have a significant effect on managerial oversight, public oversight, and public accountability. Organizational culture and atmosphere significantly affect managerial oversight, public oversight, and public accountability. Finally, managerial oversight, public oversight, and public accountability have a significant impact on e-government. Conclusion: The model for enhancing administrative transparency in interaction with e-government development programs in the Social Security Organization can be proposed as a comprehensive and practical package for all managers of executive agencies in general and for the Social Security Organization in particular.

Designing an Efficient Administrative System Model with a Jihadi Management and Organizational Justice Approach (Case Study: Social Security Organization)

The Social Security Organization, as one of the largest institutions providing social and insurance services in Iran, plays a significant role in ensuring the social and economic security of various segments of society. The objective of this research is to present a model of an efficient administrative system based on justice-oriented and jihadi management principles. This research follows an interpretive philosophy, an inductive approach, a qualitative method, and a grounded theory strategy with an emergent approach. The study population consists of the Social Security Organization, where the qualitative sample includes individuals with at least 10 years of work experience who possess theoretical and practical knowledge related to the research topic and understand the efficient processes of the administrative system within the Social Security Organization. Out of these individuals, 21 were selected as the sample through purposive sampling. To assess the validity of the research, the four criteria of Lincoln and Guba (1987) were used. The findings revealed that 548 initial codes were extracted, categorized into 104 categories and 31 components. For theoretical coding, Glaser's "6 Cs" family was utilized. In this context, the causal components include environmental and structural conditions, participatory management, interaction with insurance parties, jihadi management, training and empowerment, initiative, human resource management, process simplification, and behavioral factors. The correlational factors include supportive policies, organizational innovation, and service compensation. The contingencies involve Islamic and human values, jihadi culture, and time management. The mediating conditions consist of justice-oriented principles, utilization of modern technologies, a supportive political and economic environment, and social capital. The outcomes encompass improved productivity, enhanced justice, increased motivation and commitment, economic and social improvement, better performance, employee satisfaction and motivation, and increased customer and societal satisfaction. Finally, the environmental context includes government support for workers' rights, low government support for employers, public unawareness of laws, the existence of general laws, and unfavorable general-economic conditions.

Discovering the Components of an Efficient Administrative System with a Focus on the Jihadi Management Approach and Organizational Justice in the Social Security Organization

Objective: The objective of this study is to discover the components of an efficient administrative system that also incorporates elements of jihadi management and organizational justice. Methodology: The philosophy of this research is interpretive, the approach is qualitative, the strategy is grounded theory with an emergent approach, and the analysis method is thematic analysis based on Glaserian coding. The study population consists of the managers of the Social Security Organization in Kerman province, which was selected as the statistical population. The sample includes 21 individuals with at least 10 years of relevant work experience and comprehensive knowledge of administrative efficiency processes. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and theoretical sampling was employed to select participants. The reliability of the findings (validity and reliability) was ensured using the four criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln, including credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Findings: The findings revealed 15 components and 80 categories. These components include administrative efficiency, an efficient culture, organizational justice, corruption control, commitment to jihadi values, high productivity, service quality, transparency and accountability, innovation and continuous improvement, jihadi management, performance management, governance, fair laws, fair behavior, and fair evaluation. Conclusion: The results indicated that these dimensions and components can be considered as the most important criteria for evaluating administrative efficiency and ultimately creating efficiency in the administrative system.

Pertanggungjawaban Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) Kesehatan Atas Kebocoran Data Pribadi Pengguna dalam Perspektif Hukum Pidana

BPJS Health is the Health Social Security Organizing Agency which is responsible for administering health insurance programs for the Indonesian people. However, in the era of increasingly digitalization, user data leakage is a serious problem that must be handled seriously. User data leaks have become an increasingly disturbing issue in this digital era. One of the entities responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of user data is the Social Security Administering Agency for Health. This article aims to analyze BPJS Health's responsibility for leaking user data from a criminal law perspective. This research uses normative research methods with a statutory approach and related cases in its analysis. The research results show that leakage of user data by the Health Social Security Administering Agency can violate several criminal provisions as stated in Law no. 27 of 2022 concerning personal data protection and based on Law no. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, especially in the context of violations of confidentiality and protection of personal data. It can be concluded that BPJS Health has criminal legal responsibility for user data leaks. To minimize the risk of data leaks, the Social Security Administering Agency for Health needs to improve system security and compliance with personal data protection regulations. Apart from that, the government needs to strengthen supervision and law enforcement in dealing with cases of data leaks involving public entities such as BPJS Health.

Comparative Analysis of Malaysian and Indonesian Retirement Plan

In Malaysia, the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) was established Under the Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 as a social security organisation that offers members trustworthy and efficient savings management and it is open to both personnel. In contrast, the Private Pension Administrator (PPA) developed the Private Retirement Scheme (PRS), a retirement programme, to address retirees' insufficient resources for meeting their retirement expenses in light of rising living standards and longer life expectancies. Having to see the similar aspects between EPF and PRS in terms of creating savings and their importance towards securing a certain degree of comfort for retirees, the purpose of this study is to provide a thorough explanation of how these two retirement plans can benefit all Malaysian private employees. Similar to Malaysia, all private sector workers in Indonesia are also required to participate in retirement plan. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the similarities and differences between Malaysia's and Indonesia's retirement plan. This research employs a qualitative approach, by conducting library-based research on the relevant materials including, but not limited to statutory provisions, case laws, law textbooks, journal articles, newspapers, conference proceedings, and seminar papers. At the end of the discussion, the findings show that both countries have their own retirement plans and have the same goal which is to provide facilities to all private-sector workers.

Information Requirements of a Self-Care Application for Patients with Kidney Stones Undergoing Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Introduction: Kidney stones and its treatment, control of possible complications after lithotripsy and prevention of kidney stones recurrence, are the most substantial concerns of patients and physicians. Nowadays, the high capabilities of mobile technologies have become especially important for the prevention and control of diseases and patients' self-care. Use of mobile technologies, applications and smart tools can be a good way to prevent and control kidney stones. The present study was designed to identify the data requirements to design a self-care application for patients with kidney stones undergoing extracorporeal lithotripsy.Material and Methods: This paper is a descriptive study and was performed in Sabalan Hospital in Ardabil affiliated to the Social Security Organization of Iran. A needs assessment questionnaire was designed by reviewing the scientific sources, databases, guidelines and medical records of patients. Ten clinical and technical specialists surveyed the questionnaire.Results: Four main characteristics of demographic data, clinical data, disease monitoring and application capabilities were identified. Familiarity with kidney stone disease, familiarity with treatment methods, familiarity with diet, reminders, interaction with the treating physician were the most important capabilities identified for the application.Conclusion: The findings of the survey showed that all identified items and components scored above average. The identified components were approved by experts and considered necessary.