Designing a Model for Non-communicable Diseases Management During Pandemics in Iran

Background: The spread of pandemics can affect the management of chronic diseases from various perspectives. Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the components influencing the management of noncommunicable disease services during pandemics and to propose a model for Iran. Methods: This applied study, which is descriptive–analytical and exploratory in nature, was conducted in 2024. The study population consisted of managers at different levels of the health system and experts involved in providing chronic disease services. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire whose variables were derived from comparative studies of selected countries. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed through expert judgment, and its reliability was determined using the lambda coefficient in the exploratory section and sensitivity analysis in the confirmatory section. To obtain reliable results, the final questionnaire was distributed among 370 participants in the exploratory phase and 600 participants in the confirmatory phase. Stratified sampling was used, and data analysis was performed using factor-based tests, leading to the extraction of the final model. Results: According to the final model, six main factors and nineteen subcomponents influencing the management of health services for chronic diseases during pandemics were identified. These included leadership and governance, financing, human resources, medicines, vaccines, products and required technologies, health information systems, and service delivery. Among these factors, financing had the greatest impact coefficient (1.025), while health information systems had the lowest impact coefficient (0.705) on the management of noncommunicable disease services during pandemics in Iran. Conclusions: Based on the resulting model, various factors influence the management of health services for chronic diseases during pandemics. Success in crisis management requires strong leadership, effective coordination, investment in digital infrastructure, strengthening workforce resilience, and developing comprehensive policies for the concurrent management of crises and chronic diseases. Moreover, special attention to equity in access to services—particularly for vulnerable groups—and reducing structural inequalities are essential requirements for improving the performance of health systems in the face of future crises.