ArticleBMC health services research2024
Challenges and solutions for implementing telemedicine in Iran from health policymakers' perspective.
Article in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed.
- Managing health systems under armed conflict: a scoping review of international evidence and a document review of Iranian experiences.Global health action · 2026Article
- Assessing Telemedicine Implementation Potential in High-Referral Specialties: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Outpatients' Readiness for Engagement in Health Information Technology: Implications for Patient Education in University Hospitals of Southern Iran.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Requirements engineering-based mixed-methods needs assessment for a telemedicine breast cancer follow-up system.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- From broad strokes to fine details: qualitative research on the challenges of smart hospitals in Iran.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2026Article
- Digital integrated systems in primary health care: advancing universal health coverage in low- and middle-income countries.EBioMedicine · 2026Article
- Benefits and outcomes of implementing virtual health clinics in remote and underserved areas: a scoping review.International journal of technology assessment in health care · 2025Article
- A scoping review of virtual clinics in underserved regions: barriers and opportunities.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Barriers and facilitators of integrating telemedicine services into routine kidney transplant patient care: a scoping review of qualitative research.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- Stakeholders' perspectives on the necessary requirements of implementing the Hospital-at-Home program: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Barriers to widespread adoption of telehealth from physicians' perspective: A survey in southern Iran.PloS one · 2025Article
- Enhancing Hospital Services: Achieving High Quality Under Resource Constraints.Health services insights · 2025Article
- Acceptability of Teleconsultation Services for HIV Care in Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study.Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association · 2025Article
- The Growing Need for Web-Based Simulation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association · 2024Review
- Challenges of using telemedicine for patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.Journal of clinical & translational endocrinology · 2024Article
- Article
- Awareness and Attitudes of Medical Students, Interns, and Residents Toward Telemedicine in Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey-Based Cross-Sectional Study From Northern Iran.Journal of medical education and curricular developmentArticle
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3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite significant progress in health technology and growing interest among countries in incorporating telemedicine into healthcare delivery, its usage remains limited in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges related to telemedicine in Iran and pinpoint potential solutions from the viewpoint of health policymakers, marking the first such endeavor.
methodsThis qualitative study was conducted in Iran in 2022. Data were gathered from 19 health policymakers who were selected using purposeful and snowball sampling techniques via in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The research findings were analyzed using the content analysis technique, with coding performed using MAXQDA software. The content analysis approach developed by Erlingsson was utilized to analyze the data.
resultsThe study revealed eight main challenges that inhibit the widespread use of telemedicine in Iran. These challenges include policy weaknesses, uncertainty around operating mechanisms, inadequate communication and telecommunication infrastructure, insufficient cultural infrastructure, lack of electronic requirements, redundant bureaucracies, legal gaps, and economic factors. Furthermore, four key solutions to these challenges were identified. These include a national commitment to the development of telemedicine, the establishment of a telemedicine roadmap, the enhancement of e-health requirements and infrastructure, and the preparation of the community to accept telemedicine as a viable option for healthcare delivery.
conclusionThe implementation of telemedicine in Iran faces significant challenges, some of which are related to the national healthcare system, while others stem from various policy-related institutions and organizations. Addressing these challenges will require extensive inter-organizational cooperation and strong leadership at the governance level. However, it should be noted that fully resolving these issues is a time-consuming process.
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