Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023
Abstract Background Socioeconomic determinants of health (SDH) account for about 40% of modifiable determinants of health, followed by health behaviours (30%), clinical care (20%) and physical environmental factors (10%). The “10/90 gap” is the idea that only 10% of global health research is devoted...
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2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01300-4 |
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| author | Ahad Bakhtiari Hakimeh Mostafavi Efat Mohamadi Fateme Yaftian Sahar Kargar Seyed Vahid Ahmady Tabatabaei Zainab Alimoradi Mahasti Alizadeh Ali Almasi Mostafa Amini‑Rarani Morteza Arab-Zozani Nahid Ardian Ghorban Asgari Samad Azari Majid Babaei Narjes Bahri Masoud Behzadifar Sara Dadipoor Fatemeh Ghavidel Enayatollah Homaie Rad Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari Mahmood Karimy Ali-Asghar Kolahi Abdolhossain Madani Zohreh Mahmoodi Mohammad Moradi-Joo Masoud Motalebi Kashani Simin Mouodi Ali Asghar Najafpoor Majid Nakhaee Masoumeh Namadian Marzieh Nojomi Fatemeh Paknazar Bakhtiar Piroozi Mandana Saki Yaser Sarikhani Neda SoleimanvandiAzar Shahin Soltani Elahe Tavassoli Amin Torabipour Reza Vazirinejad Mehdi Vosoughi Amirhossein Takian Alireza Olyaeemanesh |
| author_facet | Ahad Bakhtiari Hakimeh Mostafavi Efat Mohamadi Fateme Yaftian Sahar Kargar Seyed Vahid Ahmady Tabatabaei Zainab Alimoradi Mahasti Alizadeh Ali Almasi Mostafa Amini‑Rarani Morteza Arab-Zozani Nahid Ardian Ghorban Asgari Samad Azari Majid Babaei Narjes Bahri Masoud Behzadifar Sara Dadipoor Fatemeh Ghavidel Enayatollah Homaie Rad Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari Mahmood Karimy Ali-Asghar Kolahi Abdolhossain Madani Zohreh Mahmoodi Mohammad Moradi-Joo Masoud Motalebi Kashani Simin Mouodi Ali Asghar Najafpoor Majid Nakhaee Masoumeh Namadian Marzieh Nojomi Fatemeh Paknazar Bakhtiar Piroozi Mandana Saki Yaser Sarikhani Neda SoleimanvandiAzar Shahin Soltani Elahe Tavassoli Amin Torabipour Reza Vazirinejad Mehdi Vosoughi Amirhossein Takian Alireza Olyaeemanesh |
| author_sort | Ahad Bakhtiari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Socioeconomic determinants of health (SDH) account for about 40% of modifiable determinants of health, followed by health behaviours (30%), clinical care (20%) and physical environmental factors (10%). The “10/90 gap” is the idea that only 10% of global health research is devoted to conditions that account for 90% of the global disease burden. For over a decade, SDH research centres have been established in Iran to generate evidence and address SDH. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activities and challenges faced by SDH research centres and identify knowledge gaps. Methods We systematically categorized 759 approved projects (2012–2022) from 29 SDH centres using predefined themes (e.g. mental health, COVID-19, social inequalities). Interrater reliability was ensured through dual independent coding, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. In addition, a bibliometric analysis of 5892 PubMed-indexed articles was conducted using VOSviewer, a validated tool for mapping research trends and collaborations. This phase provided objective insights into publication patterns, keyword clusters and interdisciplinary networks. Finally, semi-structured surveys were conducted with SDH researchers to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize research areas. Prioritization criteria (e.g. disease burden, equity impact) were scored using a five-point Likert scale, and the results were validated through an expert panel to ensure alignment with real-world challenges. Results Out of the 759 approved research projects gathered from 29 reviewed centres, 79 projects were related to mental health, and 53 were related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 5892 articles from 35 research centres obtained by searching PubMed were reviewed and analysed with VOS viewer software. The most frequently used keywords in the centres’ published works are COVID-19, meta-analysis, systematic review, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. In 11 clusters, the 35 research centres under investigation collaborate with 82 additional research centres. Measuring different SDHs at the population level and carrying out related interventions cost far more than the centres’ annual budget. Because of this and other factors stated in the results section, the research centres have shifted their focus to smaller research and more accessible and limited groups and subjects. Conclusions There is a mismatch between the subjects that the research centres’ researchers believe should be studied and the approved projects of the centres, as is evident from a review of the centres’ projects and their opinions. Numerous issues may be the root of these discrepancies, such as methods for ranking research subjects, methods for selecting study target groups, how to assess research centres and the different criteria set by colleges and universities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5765e6bfa9cd428dbd39dd77900f8fef |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1478-4505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Research Policy and Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-5765e6bfa9cd428dbd39dd77900f8fef2025-08-20T03:08:46ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052025-05-0123111510.1186/s12961-025-01300-4Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023Ahad Bakhtiari0Hakimeh Mostafavi1Efat Mohamadi2Fateme Yaftian3Sahar Kargar4Seyed Vahid Ahmady Tabatabaei5Zainab Alimoradi6Mahasti Alizadeh7Ali Almasi8Mostafa Amini‑Rarani9Morteza Arab-Zozani10Nahid Ardian11Ghorban Asgari12Samad Azari13Majid Babaei14Narjes Bahri15Masoud Behzadifar16Sara Dadipoor17Fatemeh Ghavidel18Enayatollah Homaie Rad19Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari20Mahmood Karimy21Ali-Asghar Kolahi22Abdolhossain Madani23Zohreh Mahmoodi24Mohammad Moradi-Joo25Masoud Motalebi Kashani26Simin Mouodi27Ali Asghar Najafpoor28Majid Nakhaee29Masoumeh Namadian30Marzieh Nojomi31Fatemeh Paknazar32Bakhtiar Piroozi33Mandana Saki34Yaser Sarikhani35Neda SoleimanvandiAzar36Shahin Soltani37Elahe Tavassoli38Amin Torabipour39Reza Vazirinejad40Mehdi Vosoughi41Amirhossein Takian42Alireza Olyaeemanesh43Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Kerman University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesSocial Developments and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center (SDHRC), Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of IranSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical SciencesHealth Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Trauma Institute, Guilan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Kashan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesSocial Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health and Metabolic Diseases Research Institute, Zanjan University of Medical SciencesPreventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical SciencesPreventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical SciencesHealth Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)Abstract Background Socioeconomic determinants of health (SDH) account for about 40% of modifiable determinants of health, followed by health behaviours (30%), clinical care (20%) and physical environmental factors (10%). The “10/90 gap” is the idea that only 10% of global health research is devoted to conditions that account for 90% of the global disease burden. For over a decade, SDH research centres have been established in Iran to generate evidence and address SDH. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activities and challenges faced by SDH research centres and identify knowledge gaps. Methods We systematically categorized 759 approved projects (2012–2022) from 29 SDH centres using predefined themes (e.g. mental health, COVID-19, social inequalities). Interrater reliability was ensured through dual independent coding, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. In addition, a bibliometric analysis of 5892 PubMed-indexed articles was conducted using VOSviewer, a validated tool for mapping research trends and collaborations. This phase provided objective insights into publication patterns, keyword clusters and interdisciplinary networks. Finally, semi-structured surveys were conducted with SDH researchers to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize research areas. Prioritization criteria (e.g. disease burden, equity impact) were scored using a five-point Likert scale, and the results were validated through an expert panel to ensure alignment with real-world challenges. Results Out of the 759 approved research projects gathered from 29 reviewed centres, 79 projects were related to mental health, and 53 were related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 5892 articles from 35 research centres obtained by searching PubMed were reviewed and analysed with VOS viewer software. The most frequently used keywords in the centres’ published works are COVID-19, meta-analysis, systematic review, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. In 11 clusters, the 35 research centres under investigation collaborate with 82 additional research centres. Measuring different SDHs at the population level and carrying out related interventions cost far more than the centres’ annual budget. Because of this and other factors stated in the results section, the research centres have shifted their focus to smaller research and more accessible and limited groups and subjects. Conclusions There is a mismatch between the subjects that the research centres’ researchers believe should be studied and the approved projects of the centres, as is evident from a review of the centres’ projects and their opinions. Numerous issues may be the root of these discrepancies, such as methods for ranking research subjects, methods for selecting study target groups, how to assess research centres and the different criteria set by colleges and universities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01300-4Social determinants of healthResearch prioritiesKnowledge managementIran |
| spellingShingle | Ahad Bakhtiari Hakimeh Mostafavi Efat Mohamadi Fateme Yaftian Sahar Kargar Seyed Vahid Ahmady Tabatabaei Zainab Alimoradi Mahasti Alizadeh Ali Almasi Mostafa Amini‑Rarani Morteza Arab-Zozani Nahid Ardian Ghorban Asgari Samad Azari Majid Babaei Narjes Bahri Masoud Behzadifar Sara Dadipoor Fatemeh Ghavidel Enayatollah Homaie Rad Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari Mahmood Karimy Ali-Asghar Kolahi Abdolhossain Madani Zohreh Mahmoodi Mohammad Moradi-Joo Masoud Motalebi Kashani Simin Mouodi Ali Asghar Najafpoor Majid Nakhaee Masoumeh Namadian Marzieh Nojomi Fatemeh Paknazar Bakhtiar Piroozi Mandana Saki Yaser Sarikhani Neda SoleimanvandiAzar Shahin Soltani Elahe Tavassoli Amin Torabipour Reza Vazirinejad Mehdi Vosoughi Amirhossein Takian Alireza Olyaeemanesh Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 Health Research Policy and Systems Social determinants of health Research priorities Knowledge management Iran |
| title | Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 |
| title_full | Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 |
| title_fullStr | Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 |
| title_short | Identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in Iran; 2023 |
| title_sort | identifying knowledge gaps in social determinants of health and related challenges in iran 2023 |
| topic | Social determinants of health Research priorities Knowledge management Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-025-01300-4 |
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