Health System Resilience Increases Through Public Participation in Research
Health System Resilience Increases Through Public Participation in Research
The Director of the Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences stated that active public participation in health research—particularly within the framework of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM)—is a crucial strategy for strengthening health system resilience.
According to the University’s Webda reporter, Dr. Hamidreza Khankeh, a faculty member at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of the Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, highlighted the importance of public involvement, stating: Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) is considered one of the pillars of Responsible Research and plays a significant role in enhancing the quality, credibility, and applicability of scientific findings.
He added: In the complex and dynamic conditions of accidents and disasters, community needs and priorities change rapidly. Therefore, engaging affected communities, survivors, and other stakeholders at every stage of the research process is of particular importance.
According to Dr. Khankeh, this participation can commence at the stage of problem definition and the setting of research priorities, continuing through study design and implementation, the interpretation of findings, and ultimately, the dissemination and practical application of the results.
The Director of the Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center noted that public participation in research ensures that studies are better aligned with the real needs of society, enhances the social acceptability of results, strengthens public trust in research, and reduces the gap between knowledge production and its utilization in policy-making and practical interventions.
He emphasized: Within the framework of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM), active public participation is a key strategy for strengthening health system resilience and ensuring equity in access to health services. It can also significantly contribute to improving the quality of health-related decision-making during accidents and disasters.
نظر دهید