Insights into the gaps and requirements of long-term care in Iran: a qualitative content analysis approach

In recent years, Iran has faced the phenomenon of population aging due to increased life expectancy and decreased fertility rates.The phenomenon of aging and its associated consequences, such as the increased need for care, make changes in Iran’s service delivery structure inevitable. This study aims to identify the gaps and requirements for establishing a long-term care system in the context of Iran. This study employed a qualitative content analysis approach, incorporating four focus group discussions (FGDs) with a total of 19 experts conducted in 2022, including members from the Ministry of Health and faculty specializing in geriatric care, who were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved the use of a structured interview guide, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to facilitate rich, detailed insights. The analysis of the collected data was performed using MAXQDA 10 software, following a rigorous content analysis methodology. The findings from the conducted interviews were classified into two main themes: insufficient responsiveness of the health care system and changing demographic/cultural trends, along with six sub-themes. The first main theme was further divided into three sub-themes including the need for a different pattern of geriatric care, increased hospital care burden, and the economic burden of aging. Moreover, he demographic/cultural trend is classified into three sub-themes: the epidemiological transition, changing societal culture and diminishing traditional family system, and socio-economic impacts of aging on families. The trends in Iran clearly indicate an increasing need for long-term care. Establishing a long-term care system can be expected to improve outcomes such as reducing healthcare and insurance costs, enhancing the quality of services, and providing financial protection for older adults and their caregivers.