Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Quality assessment of Isfahan Medical Faculty web site electronic services and prioritizing solutions using analytic hierarchy process approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Nafiseh Hajrahimi
. Sayed Mehdi Hejazi Dehaghani 1
. Nargess Hajrahimi 2
. Sima Sarmadi 3

1 Medical Informatics, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

2 Department of Commerce Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Isfahan Health Center No. 2, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan

Abstract
Context: Implementing information technology in the best possible way can bring many advantages
such as applying electronic services and facilitating tasks. Therefore, assessment of service providing
systems is a way to improve the quality and elevate these systems including e‑commerce, e‑government,
e‑banking, and e‑learning. Aims: This study was aimed to evaluate the electronic services in the website
of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in order to propose solutions to improve them. Furthermore,
we aim to rank the solutions based on the factors that enhance the quality of electronic services by using
analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Materials and Methods: Non‑parametric test was used to
assess the quality of electronic services. The assessment of propositions was based on Aqual model
and they were prioritized using AHP approach. The AHP approach was used because it directly applies
experts’ deductions in the model, and lead to more objective results in the analysis and prioritizing the
risks. After evaluating the quality of the electronic services, a multi‑criteria decision making frame‑work
was used to prioritize the proposed solutions. Statistical Analysis Used: Non‑parametric tests and AHP
approach using Expert Choice software. Results: The results showed that students were satisfied in
most of the indicators. Only a few indicators received low satisfaction from students including, design
attractiveness, the amount of explanation and details of information, honesty and responsiveness of
authorities, and the role of e‑services in the user’s relationship with university. After interviewing
with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts at the university, measurement
criteria, and solutions to improve the quality were collected. The best solutions were selected
by EC software. According to the results, the solution“controlling and improving the process in
handling users complaints” is of the utmost importance and authorities have to have it on the
website and place great importance on updating this process. Conclusions: Although, 4 out
of the 22 indicators used in the test hypothesis were not confirmed, the results show that these
assumptions are accepted at 95% confidence level. To improve the quality of electronic services,
special attention should be paid to “services interaction.” As the results showed having“controlling
and improving the process in handling users
complaints” on the website is the first and most
important one and the process of “changing
brand/factory name/address in the text of
the factory license/renewal or modification of
manufacturing license/changing the formula”
is the least important one.

Keywords

Analytic hierarchy process approach
Isfahan Medical Faculty
service interaction
service quality
usability
websites
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 4, Issue 5
Autumn 2014
Pages 1-5

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