title: Reasons for deficiencies in health information laws in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laws, regulations, and guidelines are necessary external stimuli that influence the management of health data. They serve as external mechanisms for the reinforcement and quality improvement of health information. Despite their inevitable significance, such laws have not yet been sufficiently formulated in Iran. The current study explores reasons for inadequacies in the health information laws.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive study, health-related laws and regulations from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Iran were first collected, using a review of the literature and available data. Then, bearing in mind the significant deficiencies in health information laws in Iran, the researchers asked a group of managers and policy makers in the healthcare field to complete a questionnaire to explore the reasons for such deficiencies. A test-retest method was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and tables were then used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experts' opinion on reasons for deficiencies in health information laws and regulations in Iran are divided into four principal groups: cultural conditions of the community, the status of the health information system, characteristics of managers and policy makers in the healthcare field, and awareness level among public beneficiaries about laws.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health departments or ministries in developed countries have brought about suitable changes in their affiliated organizations by developing external data enhancement mechanisms such as information-related laws and standards, and accreditation of healthcare organizations. At the same time, healthcare organizations, under obligations imposed by the external forces, try to elevate the quality of information. Therefore, this study suggests that raising healthcare managers' awareness of the importance of passing health information laws, as an effective external mechanism, is essential.
authors.affiliation: Health information management and medical informatics at the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moghaddasi
authors.affiliation: The College of Paramedical Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azamol-sadat
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: The College of Paramedical Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sajjadi
authors.affiliation: The College of Paramedical Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikookalam
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003469:Culture; D063025:Health Information Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D057766:Policy; D012042:Registries
keywords: deficiencies in laws; health information–related laws; healthcare field managers