Social Accountability in Health Research, a Concept Analysis study

Social accountability in the health system means directing all educational, research and service activities to address health concerns and priorities in the community. These days, considering the pervasiveness of the concept of social accountability around the world and the growing trend of literature in this regard as well as various interpretations made about this concept, we found it necessary to analyze the concept of social accountable medical education.

Methods and Materials: 

In this study, the modified version of McKenna’s approach to concept analysis was used to determine the concept, explain structures and substructures and determine the border concepts neighboring and against social accountability in medical education.

After review of related literatures, 12 articles and documents were selected to concept analysis. By studying the selected sources, the components of the concept were identified and the analytical definition of social accountability in the health research system was obtained. Then, a model case with all the features of the concept was developed to identify the concept of social accountability in the health research system from other related concepts.

According to the results of this study in the field of social accountability, the detailed and transparent analytical definition of social accountable health research can be used in future studies as well as the policies and decisions to meet the society health needs.