Review of the Current Status of Mandatory Patient Safety Standards in Iranian Hospitals

Abstract

Background: The first stage of the patient safety program in Iran is to achieve the implementation of mandatory standards for entering the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital program. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges of implementing mandatory patient safety standards in Iranian hospitals. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a content analysis approach. The duration of the interviews was between 30 and 60 minutes. Sampling was carried out through purposive sampling. Twenty interviews were conducted virtually through the virtual classes of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data analysis was based on the conventional content analysis method; with the help of qualitative analysis software such as MaxQDA version 22, the existing data were categorized and dimensions, principles, and components related to the research topic were extracted. Data analysis was then performed thematically. Findings: Based on the thematic analysis, 14 main themes and 3 subthemes were obtained in this section. Participants expressed the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities for implementing mandatory patient safety standards. Conclusion: It is better to take action to make the implementation of standards more effective by utilizing the strengths and opportunities identified in this study, recognizing the threats and weaknesses presented in this study, and achieving the goal of improving the quality of services provided and better implementing patient safety standards in healthcare centers. © 2026 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.