Necessity of Developing Psychological Interventions in the Management of Type II Diabetes and its Barriers: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Iranian Health Policymakers

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is known as one of the health emergencies of the 21st century. This disorder is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and pregnancy complications, as well as lower quality of life, high economic burden, and high risk of premature death. The aim of this study was to investigate the necessity of and barriers to developing psychological interventions to treat, improve, and manage type II diabetes from the perspective of health policymakers in Iran. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on 11 policymakers of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran within 2016-2019. The data were collected using semi-structured and in-depth interviews and then analyzed by content analysis. Results: The main themes related to the necessity of developing psychological interventions included impact on the quality of life, disease management, cost-effectiveness, and complications of diabetes. Conclusions: The current study was conducted on senior health policymakers in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran. Accordingly, our findings can be used in decision making and the development, implementation, and evaluation of psychological intervention programs for type II diabetic patients in Iran.