factors influencing traffic accidents among the elderly in northern iran: a qualitative content analysis

Objective: the study aimed to explore experts’ perspectives on the factors contributing to accidents involving the elderly in guilan, iran.methods: this qualitative study employed conventional content analysis with an inductive approach in 2024. fourteen experts from guilan (iran) were purposefully selected. data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide containing open-ended questions, which was developed through an expert panel discussion. all stages of data analysis were performed manually following the graneheim and lundman’s approach.results: three main categories, 10 subcategories, and 29 key codes were identified. the “individual factors” category had six subcategories: physical abilities, psychological factors, traffic literacy, cultural attitudes, and individual needs. the “environmental factors” had two subcategories: road and traffic infrastructure, and weather conditions. the “policy-making” category consisted of three sub-categories: transportation safety, healthcare system, and public education.conclusion: to reduce damages from elderly-related accidents, preventive measures should focus on improving health services, enhancing traffic education, and addressing specific behavioral and cultural factors. additionally, enhancing infrastructure, designing age-appropriate vehicles, and implementing targeted policies could significantly mitigate accident risks among this population.