title: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AT NATIONAL LEVEL: A STUDY FROM IRAN.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate the opinions of stakeholders on their roles in health technology assessment (HTA) in Iran and to determine the barriers and facilitators existing in the organizations to help increase their involvement in the HTA program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in two stages, semi-structured interviews, and "policy dialogue" with stakeholders. The data were analyzed through the framework approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interviews were held with ten stakeholder representatives from various organizations. In addition, Twenty-one representatives participated in the policy dialogue. Based on the findings, all the stakeholder organizations considered themselves as interest groups in all the stages of the HTA process; however, their tendencies and methods of involvement differed from one another. According to the participants, the most important issue to be considered in the context of HTA was that the structures, stages, and procedures of the HTA process must be made transparent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stakeholder involvement in the HTA program cannot readily take place. Various stakeholders have different interests, responsibilities, infrastructures, and barriers. If a program does not meet these considerations, its chances of succeeding will substantially decrease. Therefore, to prevent overlooking the needs and expectations of stakeholders from the HTA process, it is essential to create opportunities in which their thoughts and ideas are taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC),Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS),Tehran,Iranse_shahmoradi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yazdizadeh
authors.affiliation: Knowledge Utilization Research Centre (KURC),Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS),Tehran,Iranse_shahmoradi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Safoura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahmoradi
authors.affiliation: Community Based Participatory Research Center,Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.affiliation: Medical Ethics and Law Research center,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Shila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Economics,Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS),Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazyar
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Aghdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souresrafil
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research,Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olyaeemanesh
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D011050:Policy Making; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: HTA; HTA at National Level; Iran; Stakeholder involvement; organizing HTA