Factors Influencing Paternalistic Clinical Environment in Iran: An Exploratory Research Brief

This study aimed to explore the factors that contribute to the presence of paternalism within the Iranian healthcare system. The study was conducted in 2024, conducting 15 semi-structured interviews. The study sample comprised chronic disease patients discharged from a major public hospital in southwestern region of Iran. The interview sample consisted of approximately 54% males with a mean age of 46 years. About 46% of the participants had diabetes, while the remainder had cardiovascular disorders. After completion of the interviews and the subsequent data gathering, Braun and Clarke's method was utilized in order to conduct a thematic analysis on the acquired data. The thematic analysis presented several themes including 'patient trust in physicians', 'lack of patient empowerment', 'patient psychological and communication barriers', and 'healthcare system and infrastructure limitations'. While, the latter theme was the most frequently addressed theme of factors by the study participants, 'limitations in governmental hospitals' was the most frequently addressed item among the sub-themes of the study findings. The presence of paternalism in Iran's healthcare system was delineated to be primarily influenced by the existing limitations in the Iranian healthcare system and its infrastructure. Further research is necessary to investigate and elaborate on this phenomenon in greater detail.