3.2 PARTICIPATION SELECTION
According to the structure of Iran’s health system, in primary health care centers, there are a number of HCWs and one health care worker as an employer of other HCWs (foreman). HCWs are responsible for providing health care for the population of the areas covered by each center. Participants in this study were HCWs in primary health care centers, supervisors and managers in Qazvin and Alborz County [Institutional Review Board approval XXX; masked for review].
The participants were recruited from the list of employees in the central department of health management in two counties that were covered by one province. In general, the sampling of this study was mixed sampling. Purposive and snowball sampling were used for HCWs. Purposive sampling of HCWs was based on work experience and geographical location of the workplace. Inclusion criteria for this study were having at least six months of experience in primary health care centers as a HCW. Supervisors were selected by purposive sampling method and managers were selected by convenience sampling method. Inclusion criteria were having at least 2 years of managerial work experience in the health department. The interviewer explained the study, the reasons and purpose of the study over the phone to the employees and invited them to participate in the research. Thirty-two participants were recruited in this study: 21 HCWs, 9 supervisors and 2 managers. Participants were concerned about the dissemination of information due to the nature of the issue and organizational conditions. They were all assured that the data would be stored securely and anonymously, and analyzed for publication. All participants provided informed written consent.