Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Analyze the correspondence between health technologies (HT) to develop --doctor's opinion-- and the ones assessed by Spanish Agencies for Health Technologies Assessment. DESIGN: Response analysis of HT obtained from participant doctors. Comparison with assessment reports of agencies. SETTING: Andalusian Public Health System; 2003. Spanish Agencies for Health Tecnologies Assessment. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and forty-seven specialised doctors of 46 MIR specialties. METHOD: Non-random sample. Andalusian experts and leaders professional selected. Exhaustive searching in Internet or assessment reports of HT. A "score of effort" (SE) was calculated for each Agency. RESULTS: Seven HT groups agree with agency assessment reports: systems and communication network (SE, 0.78%-6.25%); mollecular biology for diagnosis and treatment (SE, 3.12%-42.73%); functional image technologies, monitorization, quick diagnosis, and non-invasive methods (SE, 3.93%-31.25%); lasertherapy, microsurgery, endoscopic surgery, minimally invasive, virtual and remote-controlled surgery (SE, 3.22%-31.25%); stem cells, artificial organs, and xenotransplantation (SE, 0.78%-12.34%); psychosocial interventions (SE, 0.78%-7.69%); management, planification and record systems (SE, 9.67%-76.92%). Two additional cathegories not cited by doctors but evaluated by agencies were identified: Effectiveness of therapeutic and disgnostic implanted strategies and sterilization methods of surgical material (SE, 3.86%-43.18%); Matural drugs, alternative therapies (SE, 1.78%-6.25%). CONCLUSIONS: Greater concordance between doctors and agencies in: mollecular biology, functional image technology, new surgical techniques and management, planification and record systems.