A Multi-Stakeholder Qualitative Study of Geriatric Health Program in Iran

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the Elderly Health Program (EHP) in Iran from the perspectives of key stakeholders (policymakers, service providers, and recipients) by identifying its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) within its broader socio-technological, economic, environmental, and political (STEEP) context. Setting: Tabriz, Iran. Participants: 38 participants were selected via purposive sampling, including policymakers, healthcare service providers, and older adults recipients of the program. Intervention: Semi-structured interviews and conventional qualitative content analysis guided by the integrated SWOT-STEEP analytical framework. Outcome Measures: Internal strengths, external opportunities a, and weakness of the Geriatric Health Program. Results: The analysis identified key internal strengths (e.g., comprehensive service package, trained personnel) and weaknesses (e.g., weak referral system, insufficient financing) of the program. External opportunities (e.g., increasing public awareness, potential for technology use) and threats (e.g., economic constraints, inter-organizational inconsistencies) were also delineated. The findings provide a strategic map of the factors influencing the effectiveness of the program. Conclusions: The Geriatric Health Program possesses significant strengths but faces great challenges. A robust and continuous evaluation system is essential to leverage opportunities, mitigate threats, and inform strategic decisions for improving service quality and achieving macro goals of the health program.