Participants characteristics* (Tehran, Iran, 2022)
| Category | Position (1) | Position (2) | |
| P1 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior manager (S. manager) at a University of Medical Sciences | A member of the Provincial Committee for COVID-19 |
| P2 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior manager at a University of Medical Sciences | A senior policymaker, the MoHME and IHIO |
| P3 | Academic member | A mid-level manager (M. manager) at the Pasteur Institute | – |
| P4 | Academic member | A mid-level manager at the Pasteur Institute | – |
| P5 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior manager at a University of Medical Sciences | A senior policymaker, the MoHME |
| P6 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior policymaker, the MoHME | – |
| P7 | Academic member/healthcare professional | Clinician (infectious diseases specialist) | A member of the National Scientific Committee for COVID-19 |
| P8 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior manager at a University of Medical Sciences | Former member of the Iranian Parliament |
| P9 | Academic member/policymaker | A senior manager at a University of Medical Sciences | A senior manager, the Pasteur Institute |
| P10 | Academic member/policymaker | A member of the National Scientific Committee for COVID-19 | – |
| P11 | Academic member/policymaker | A member of the National Scientific Committee for COVID-19 | – |
| P12 | Academic member | A mid-level manager at a University of Medical Sciences | – |
| P13 | Policymaker | A senior manager, the MoHME | – |
| P14 | Policymaker | A mid-level manager, the MoHME | – |
| P15 | Academic member/policymaker | A mid-level manager, the MoHME | – |
| P16 | Policymaker | A senior manager, the Biological Defence Organisation | – |
*Some participants were involved in more than one position simultaneously.
IHIO, Iran Health Insurance Organisation; MoHME, Ministry of Health and Medical Education.