Table 2 Obstacles and challenges of health informatics research
Main theme | Main categories | Subcategories |
|---|---|---|
Educational factors | Weaknesses among professors | - Some professors lack up-to-date knowledge. - Some professors show inadequate competency. - Professors provide insufficient support to students. |
Deficiencies in training programs | - Weaknesses in the curriculum - Insufficient focus on practical training - Lack of clarity in educational objectives | |
Lack of scientific resources | - Poor quality of translated textbooks - Challenges in accessing electronic resources - Shortage of reference books in Persian - Limited access to English-language resources - Absence of suitable educational workshops - Lack of resource books for research methodology, particularly in Persian | |
Stewardship factors | Legal challenges | - Absence of mechanisms for healthcare providers to utilize produced software - Legal gaps concerning software usage - Lack of regulatory oversight for the production of HI-related software - Absence of accreditation or approval standards |
Structural issues | - Non-targeted training programs - Neglect of innovative approaches - Weak collaboration between academia and industry - Inadequate promotion criteria for professors - Inadequate communication between medical informatics professors and medical professionals - Overemphasis on article extraction from research - Focus on publication in foreign journals - Incompetence in staff recruitment - Undefined mechanisms for organizations to conduct research projects - Structural deficiencies in the Ministry of Health - Absence of an accreditation and approval organization | |
Inadequate necessary infrastructure | - Limited access to necessary equipment - Insufficient educational facilities - Absence of specialized laboratories for software testing - Lack of adequately equipped libraries - Insufficient computational infrastructure and expertise for artificial intelligence and machine learning - Inadequate computer systems in certain colleges - Slow internet connectivity and restricted access in hostels and colleges - Blocking of valuable websites (e.g., YouTube) - Absence of a dedicated research center for Health Informatics | |
Problems related to project management | - Extensive scope of research projects - Projects not aligned with specific needs - Lack of transparency in research prioritization by universities and research centers - Low level of innovation in research projects - Weaknesses in the evaluation system - Neglect of the evaluation system - Inadequate oversight in the implementation of research projects - Undefined mechanisms for organizations to conduct research projects - Bias in certain research projects | |
Cultural factors | Culture of individualism | - Low willingness to engage in teamwork - Limited interdisciplinary cooperation |
Resistance to adopting new technologies | - Resistance from service providers - Opposition from executives and policymakers | |
Financial factors | Insufficient funding | - Minimal financial support for research ideas - Insufficient budget allocation for research centers -Lack of financial backing for theses from universities |
Lack of information about sponsors | - Poor communication with accelerators - Weak visibility of research products from startups | |
High costs of tools and equipment required | - Absence of clear standards - Lack of high-speed internet access in remote areas - Insufficient availability of customized hardware and software - Challenges in self-health assessment and lack of necessary facilities | |
Impact of international sanctions | - Sanctions affecting certain biosensors - Impact of international sanctions restricting access to valuable databases, standards, and websites - Devaluation of the national currency impacting article publication and international collaboration |