Collaborative Governance, a Tool for Enhancing Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines. A Study in Iranian Context
Abstract Background: Since the spread of COVID-19 disease around the world, several practitioners have sought to the ways that hasten control of the pandemic. There is a gap in contemplation of governance system’s effect on compliance with prevention guidelines targeting decrease in the disease’s consequences. This article is aimed to clear this gap. Methods: A model of collaborative governance was chosen to examine the effect of governance elements, composing of starting condition, institutional design, facilitative leadership and collaborative process. The SEM method was applied using PLS software and the survey was held among 220 people all around Iran. Results: Findings showed that collaborative process has a significant effect on compliance with prevention guidelines. Also, facilitative leadership and institutional design have positive impact on compliance variable. Conclusion: Examining the effect of collaborative governance model on compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines is a novel idea, especially because it is held on Iran with its complex cultural conditions. Based on the results, it is strongly suggested that policy makers in Iran consider joint actions and collaborative measures in controlling the disease. The measure can also be useful in other countries or other upcoming pandemics with regards to their socio-cultural context.