The impact of the Iranian health transformation plan policy on equitable access to medical imaging services in West Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Equity in the delivery of health services, including diagnostic imaging, is crucial to achieving universal health coverage. The Health Transformation Plan (HTP), launched in 2014, represents a major healthcare policy to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services. This study aimed to explore the impact of the HTP on equity in the access to medical imaging in Lorestan province, located in west Iran, from 2014 to 2023. Annual growth rates (AGR) of imaging devices were calculated, whilst equity assessment of medical imaging distribution was carried out by means of the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve per 100,000 population. The latter was generated using the cumulative distribution of imaging devices, as well as the cumulative population ratio. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2023, the number of imaging devices has increased threefold. The AGR of installing CT and MRI scanners in Lorestan province increased between 2014 and 2023. The Gini coefficients increased from 0.12 for CT and 0.16 for MRI in 2014 to 0.33 in 2023 for both devices. This indicates a decrease in equity in access to these fundamental health technologies despite the increase in their figures. Policymakers should better allocate medical equipment based on the specific health needs of different regions throughout Iran.

Predicting preventive behaviors against COVID-19: A structural equation modeling approach from Iran.

Background: The purpose of this study was to use the health belief model (HBM) to predict the adoption of preventive behaviors against COVID-19 using the structural equation modeling approach. Methods: As a descriptive-analytical study, this research was conducted on 831 men and women who were under the coverage of comprehensive health service centers in the Lorestan province of Iran in 2021. A questionnaire based on HBM was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 22 and AMOS version 21. Results: The mean age of participants was 33.0 ± 8.5, with a range of 15-68 years. The constructs of the HBM explained about 31.7% of the variance in COVID-19-related preventive behaviors. The greatest total effect on preventive behaviors against the COVID-19 disease belonged to the constructs of perceived self-efficacy (0.370), perceived barriers (-0.294), and perceived benefits (0.270), in descending order of impact. Conclusion: Educational interventions can be useful in promoting COVID-19 preventive behaviors by bringing about a correct understanding of self-efficacy, barriers, and benefits.