Research Needs Assessment and Priority Setting for Health Economics: A Mixed method Study in Iran

The aim of this study was identification of research needs and priorities in the field of health economics. This study was conducted through a mixed method. Data collection was also done by means of interviews and focused groups. To rank the research topics Delphi method was used. Then، the data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Liker-type scale was applied to rate the responses of the questionnaire and alpha value thereof، equaled 0. 81. According to the data analysis and research experts، eight major research areas were determined as follows: Labor market، finance and insurance، technology assessment، health economics، cost، income and producing health care centers، payment methods، privatization، equity، supply and demand of health services. These areas were finally included 102 research topics. The highest mean score of 3. 5 belonged to the areas of labor market and health equity. The research area of payment method got the minimum mean score of 3 either. Given the scarcity of resources and budgetary constraints، assessment of research priorities can lead to better allocation of resources and more effective operations.