Challenges in the implementation of an electronic referral system: A qualitative study in the Iranian context

Mohammad Javad Kabir, Alireza Heidari, Mohammad Reza Honarvar, Zahra Khatirnamani and Narges Rafiei

International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2023, vol. 38, issue 1, 69-84

Abstract: Referral chain reduces patient costs and results in more efficient use of workforce and equipment. Despite the implementation of the Family Physician Programme in Iran, the referral system does not function as intended. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain the challenges in the implementation of an electronic referral system in Iran. This qualitative study was performed in Golestan province in northern Iran. The participants were 46 family physicians, specialist physicians, healthcare managers, experts, and patients who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using in‐depth individual interviews and were analysed using content analysis. Implementation of the electronic referral system faces management challenges (planning, organisation, motivation, control), administrative challenges (scheduling, patient load and waiting time, visit and diagnosis, feedback), and educational, policy, sociocultural, technological, and economic challenges. Policymakers can adopt appropriate strategies to improve the quantity and quality of their electronic referral system according to the challenges identified herein.

Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3563

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:ijhplm:v:38:y:2023:i:1:p:69-84

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0749-6753

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Health Planning and Management is currently edited by Calum Paton

More articles in International Journal of Health Planning and Management from Wiley Blackwell
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().