Critical Factors Influencing Successful Implementation of Health System Policies

Background: Health system policy implementation (HSPI) plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding the factors that influence the success of HSPI is essential for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders. This research aims to investigate and analyze these influential factors using a combination of thematic analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology. Methods: The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining thematic analysis and AHP to comprehensively explore the factors influencing the success of HSPI. The present study is a descriptive-survey with an applied nature and a cross-sectional design. Information was collected using the survey method, classifying it as field research. The statistical population consisted of 15 professors from the Faculty of Medicine at Najaf Abad Azad University, selected through purposive sampling. The data collection tool is a pairwise comparison questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the AHP method and Expert Choice 11 software. Results: The thematic analysis reveals a range of factors affecting the success of HSPI, including but not limited to stakeholder engagement, resource allocation, political commitment, organizational capacity, public awareness, and socio-cultural factors. These factors are further analyzed and prioritized using the AHP method to determine their relative importance and impact on policy implementation success. The main factors in order of priority are stakeholder engagement (weight = 0.145), resource availability (weight = 0.133) and policy design and planning (weight = 0.124). Conclusion: The integration of thematic analysis and AHP provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and assessing the factors influencing the success of HSPI. By identifying and prioritizing these factors, policymakers and healthcare stakeholders can develop targeted strategies and interventions to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of HSPI, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and healthcare delivery systems.