Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39415659›Full record

ArticlePrimary health care research & development2024

Electronic referral system policy analysis: a qualitative study in the context of Iran.

Mohammad Javad Kabir, Alireza Heidari, Mohammad Reza Honarvar, Zahra Khatirnamani

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Article in Primary health care research & development, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Mohammad Javad KabirHealth Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Alireza HeidariHealth Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.ORCID 0000-0001-9262-7967
Mohammad Reza HonarvarHealth Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.ORCID 0000-0002-9302-3791
Zahra KhatirnamaniHealth Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReferral system is among the key elements of primary health care that leads to enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, reduced waiting time, and patients' enhanced access to more specialized services. The present study was aimed at analysing the policies of the electronic referral (e-Referral) system in Iran.

methodsThis qualitative study was conducted based on Walt and Gilson's policy triangle and Kingdon's models. Data were collected through document analysis and 51 semi-structured interviews with managers at various levels, experts, family physicians, specialist physicians, and patients. Document analysis was performed by content analysis method, and interview analysis was performed through framework analysis method in Atlas.ti 8.

resultsThe e-Referral system was launched with the aim of equitable access to services and to benefit from better management of health resources. Valid scientific evidences were used to formulate policies. Numerous meetings were held with domestic and foreign stakeholders at the provincial, city, and rural levels. The implementation of the programme followed a bottom-up approach, and the main obstacles to the implementation of the programme included the change of senior managers of the health system and their not being fully aware of the importance of the programme, inadequate allocation of financial resources, and unwillingness of some patients to follow the referral system.

conclusionsThe policy triangle framework, while explaining the components of the e-Referral system programme, revealed the obstacles to the proper implementation of the programme. In order to ensure that the programme goes on continuously and successfully, it is essential to create the necessary determination and commitment on the part of the minister of health and medical education and senior managers of the health system, earmark resources for the programme, improve resource allocation with insurance management, reform the payment system, plan to raise public awareness, and attract community participation.

Indexed as

Health PolicyQualitative ResearchReferral and ConsultationFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansInterviews as TopicIranMalePolicy MakingPrimary Health Caree-Healthelectronic referral system (e-Referral)Golestan provincepolicy analysispolicymakingpolicy triangulation frameworkqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID39415659
PMCPMC11569857

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