Journal of Modern Medical

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Kadkhodaei M, Bahrami H, Peykani M H. A Comparative Study on the Policy Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran and Selected Countries. JMIS 2024; 10 (2) :184-205
URL: http://jmis.hums.ac.ir/article-1-504-en.html

Objective This study aims to compare the policies implemented to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran and selected countries (US, China, Italy, New Zealand, Egypt).
Methods This is a mixed-method study (qualitative and quantitative) using a thematic analysis. Based on the Delphi method in three rounds, the data were collected using a questionnaire with acceptable validity and reliability. The questionnaire was presented to 250 employees and managers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University (Khorasgan Branch), and University of Kashan. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 26 and AMOUS using Friedman’s test and chi-square test.
Results The results led to the extraction of three main themes: Management policies (social, managerial, distancing, communication & information, educational management), healthcare policies (crisis management, testing and vaccination, prevention and health, treatment, resource management, and research) and economic/supportive policies (economic, supportive). There were significant differences in the ranks of the sub-themes (P<0.05). The sub-theme of “communication and information” ranked first, and the sub-themes of “research” and “treatment” ranked second and third. Regarding the themes, healthcare policies ranked first, while management policies and economic/supportive policies ranked second and third in terms of importance (P<0.05).
Conclusion Six countries (Iran, US, New Zealand, Italy, Egypt, and China) had different performances in response to the pandemic, which led to different infection, recovery and mortality rates in these countries.