Palliative Care Policy Analysis in Iran: A Conceptual Model

BACKGROUND: Palliative care programs are rapidly evolving for patients with life-threatening illnesses. Increased and earlier access for facilities is a subject of growing importance in health services, policy, and research. AIM: This study was conducted to explain stakeholders’ perceptions of the factors affecting the design of such a palliative care system and its policy analysis. METHODOLOGY: Semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted following purposive sampling of the participants. Twenty-two participants were included in the study. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative-directed content analysis based on "policy analysis triangle" framework. RESULTS: The findings showed the impact of four categories, namely context (political, social, and structural feasibility), content (target setting), process (attracting stakeholder participation, the standardization of care, and education management), and actors (the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, health-care providers, and volunteers) in the analysis of the palliative care policies of Iran. CONCLUSION: In the past 6 years, attention to palliative care has increased significantly as a result of the National Cancer Research Network with the support of the Ministry of Health. The success of health system plan requires great attention to its aspects of social, political, and executive feasibility. Careful management by policymakers of different stakeholders is vital to ensure support for any national plan, but this is challenging to achieve.