The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) Health Program.
Previous studies on technology assessment and health policy.
Purpose of the Study:
To describe the OTA Health Program's planning process.
To analyze the factors influencing study selection and resource allocation.
To examine shifts in research emphasis over time.
Main Methods:
Analysis of OTA Health Program's study selection and resource allocation.
Examination of research areas: assessment methods, specific technologies, environmental health, information technologies, and financing/structural aspects of health care.
Evaluation of internal and external factors influencing program planning.
Main Results:
Program planning significantly influenced "assessment methods" and "specific technologies" research.
External factors, such as congressional needs and scientific developments, increasingly drive "financing/structural aspects" and "environmental health" studies.
Shifts in research emphasis reflect a dynamic interplay between internal priorities and external demands.
Conclusions:
The OTA Health Program's planning process adapts to evolving research needs.
Both internal assessments and external congressional/scientific drivers shape health technology policy research.
Understanding these factors is crucial for effective resource allocation in health policy analysis.