Ravaghi H¹ (PhD), Sajadi HS² * (PhD)

  ¹ Health Management and Economics Research Center, Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

  ² Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran .

  Received: 30 Jul 2013, Accepted: 12 Nov 2013

  Abstract

  Introduction: Given the need of doing researches related to patient safety, conducting applicable studies in this field, and making evidences, this study aimed to recognize and define the research priorities in patient safety fields.

  Methods: This study was carried out using Modified Classis Delphi technique in 2013. The study participants were all policy-makers, planners, managers and officials of healthcare organizations as well as faculty members involved in patient safety issue. Purposive sampling was employed to select 45 participants. Data was gathered using three questionnaires. The first questionnaire was prepared on the base of the review literature and the other questionnaire was designed on the base of the previous results. The validity of used questionnaire was confirmed by experts. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS-16.

  Results: Four themes were identified including "epidemiology of threatening factors of patient safety" (with 14 subthemes), "root analyzing of threatening factors of patient safety" (with 5 subthemes), "patient safety improvement" (with 21 subthemes) and "evaluation and feedback of patient safety solutions" (with 5 subthemes). The most important subtheme (first priority) was the study of medical errors in using drugs (drug errors) and the less important subtheme (last priority) was the study of educational and non-educational healthcare centers and patient safety.

  Conclusion: Our findings indicated the Iran’s research needs in patient safety field. This could help policy-makers, researchers and related organizations to choose suitable and applicable topics to investigate on the patient safety issues. Also, it makes possible utilizing available capacities to satisfy patients and society needs. It is suggested that the identified research properties to be given to relevant stakeholders in order to organize efforts of providing sufficient evidence in patient safety field.

  Key words: Research priority, patient safety, Modified Classic Delphi, Iran

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Ravaghi H, Sajadi HS. Research Priorities for Patient Safety in Iran. Hakim Research Journal 2014 16(4): 358- 366.