Background: The main purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence healthcare quality in the Iranian context.Methods: Exploratory in-depth individual and focus group interviews were conducted with 222 healthcare stakeholders including healthcare providers, managers, policy-makers, and payers to identify factors affecting the quality of healthcare services provided in Iranian healthcare organisations.Results: Quality in healthcare is a production of cooperation between the patient and the healthcare provider in a supportive environment. Personal factors of the provider and the patient, and factors pertaining to the healthcare organisation, healthcare system, and the broader environment affect healthcare service quality. Healthcare quality can be improved by supportive visionary leadership, proper planning, education and training, availability of resources, effective management of resources, employees and processes, and collaboration and cooperation among providers.Conclusion: This article contributes to healthcare theory and practice by developing a conceptual framework that provides policy-makers and managers a practical understanding of factors that affect healthcare service quality.

Dear Editor, The COVID-19 virus is amemberof the coronavirus family. The virus is highly contagious and has a very high risk of infection. It rapidly spread worldwide, and the subsequent global public health emergency was declared a pandemicbytheWorld Health Organization(WHO)onJanuary 30, 2020 (1). The virus has put a lot of pressure on countries’,health systems (2, 3). New variants of the virus have been discovered worldwide, and efforts have been made to manage the virus. Countries’,efforts to manage COVID-19, including general vaccination, national lockdowns (4), public education (5), and public health recommendations, have had practical implications. One of the best ways to manage and end the COVID-19 pandemic is universal vaccination. It is also one of the best ways to counteract the mutations of the COVID-19 virus...

Background: Hospital culture significantly influences healthcare delivery. Effective teamwork among healthcare professionals, along with strong leadership and management, is crucial for providing high-quality services. This study explores the impact of leadership competence and organizational culture on the quality of healthcare services. Methods: We employed a rigorous methodology in this cross-sectional analytical study, conducted in 2024 at Velayat Hospital in Damghan. Data were collected from 100 randomly selected nurses using Denison's Organizational Culture Questionnaire, the Standard Leadership Competency Questionnaire based on the Stroud model (2009), and the SERVQUAL scale by Parasuraman et al. (1988). The analysis was conducted using advanced techniques such as structural equation modeling (SEM) and Pearson correlation, facilitated by SPSS 26 and EQS 6.2 software, ensuring the reliability and validity of our findings. Results: Among the participants, 68% were women. The overall average scores were 115.56 ± 18.8 for organizational culture, 74.84 ± 23.12 for leadership competence, and 194 ± 16.17 for healthcare service quality. A significant positive correlation was found between organizational culture and leadership competence (P < 0.05, r = 0.633). The relationships between healthcare service quality and both organizational culture (r = 0.274, P > 0.05) and leadership competence (r = 0.304, P > 0.05) were positive, suggesting promising potential for future research. The structural equation model demonstrated a reasonably good fit (RMSEA = 0.24). Conclusions: The findings of this study are significant for healthcare professionals and hospital managers. They emphasize the importance of leadership competence, supported by a strong organizational culture, in enhancing the quality of nursing services. The study also highlights the urgent need to foster leadership skills and cultivate a positive organizational culture, as these factors are essential for improving healthcare outcomes. This call to action should inspire and motivate all stakeholders to work toward creating a more effective and positive healthcare environment.