[Identification of new and emerging technologies].

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.