Iranian Study Maps Educational Support Needs for Chronic Patients

A study identifies the educational support needs of Iranian patients living with chronic diseases. The research, conducted between October 2023 and August 2024 in Yazd city, Iran, utilized an inductive content analysis to define these needs from the perspectives of both patients and nurses. The study aimed to clarify what chronic patients expect from educational support, a factor consistently considered a vital nursing intervention but previously poorly defined in this specific context.

Eighteen participants were selected through purposive sampling at the community level. The participants were chosen from health centers and clinics and were required to have at least one chronic disease. Semistructured interviews were conducted to gather data, which was then analyzed using a conventional inductive content analysis approach.

Three primary themes emerged from the analysis of the interview data. The first theme, the need for self-management, encompassed coping strategies and self-care behaviors. The second theme, the need for others, highlighted the desire for family companionship, the importance of maintaining independence, and the need to address feelings of helplessness.

The third theme, the need for education, focused on knowledge acquisition, information seeking, and challenges related to medication adherence. The study concludes that educational support for chronic patients is a person-centered and multifaceted educational process. It supports patients in meeting their needs.

The authors suggest that nurses can play an important role in facilitating this educational process due to their extensive interaction with chronic patients.

Subject of Research: Qualitative analysis of educational support needs for Iranian patients with chronic diseases

Article Title: An inductive content analysis of the multifaceted nature of educational support among Iranian patients with chronic diseases

Article References: Kalani, Z., Kermanshahi, S. M. K., Ahmadi, F., & Kazemnejad, A. (2026). An inductive content analysis of the multifaceted nature of educational support among Iranian patients with chronic diseases. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-78855-x

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-78855-x

Keywords: chronic disease, patient education, qualitative research, nursing, self-management, Iran, healthcare, content analysis, inductive, content, analysis, multifaceted