Iran Medical Council Journal of Iranian Medical Council 2645-338X 9 3 2026 07 01 Psychiatrists’ Experiences in Managing Medications via Online Platforms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: A Qualitative Study 640 651 246539 10.18502/jimc.v9i3.21822 EN Mahnoush Mahdiar Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-9969-8810 Hadi Ranjbar Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Elham Shirazi Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-3872-5149 Fateme TaghaviZanjani Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-7744-9282 Alireza Javan Emergency Medicine Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-0839-1758 Mohammad Ghadirivasfi Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-1866-7009 Journal Article 2025 03 09 <strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional psychiatric practices that depend on face-to-face interactions. Patients with psychiatric disorders often have higher rates of other health issues, which worsen their outcomes when infected with COVID-19. This underscores the need for timely diagnosis and treatment, as well as accessible psychiatric services, especially considering the possibility of future pandemics. <br><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study conducted in 2024 involved selected psychiatry faculty members from Tehran’s psychiatry departments, who were experienced in online consultations. Semi-structured interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis (Graneheim and Lundman approach). Ethical considerations and informed consent were ensured.<br><strong>Results: </strong>The study involved 14 faculty members from the Psychiatry Department of Iran University of Medical Sciences. Their experiences with telepsychiatry consultations in medication management were examined. Among the participants, four were women and 10 were men. Data analysis using conventional content analysis produced 7 main themes and 13 subcategories. The main themes included advantages of telepsychiatry, challenges of telepsychiatry, impact on doctor-patient relationships, effects on diagnosis and treatment, job satisfaction of psychiatrists, ethical and privacy concerns, and training and preparedness of psychiatrists. <br><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Telepsychiatry can improve access to mental health care. This study offers insights for policymakers and healthcare leaders on the practicality and infrastructure needed for widespread telepsychiatry adoption, especially in future crises. Adopting telepsychiatry can enhance community mental health and ensure reliable access to psychiatric services. <br><br> https://www.jimc.ir/article_246539_cf687c90286608119654a97cc2ace716.pdf