The purpose of the present thesis is to explore and to demonstrate how the combination of two methodological approaches, text mining plus the systemic vision of TRIZ empowered by semantics, can bring a larger and more comprehensive analysis of the evolution of a technology. Both approaches had been not combined before the first of the four papers constituents of the present thesis based in a compendium of publications. However, this combination applied to the evolution of technologies is increasingly being published in the scientific literature. Such combination shows a second benefit in the form of an improvement in accessing and connecting knowledge from disparate scientific literatures in a systematic manner. The common element in all these papers is the use of the technology mining approach, 'techmining', the application of text mining techniques based on technology management knowledge, combined with the use of semantic TRIZ, the advantage of syntactic applied to the systemic vision of TRIZ. These papers show that a better analysis of evolving technologies, e.g. by profiling technologies from a systemic point of view or, a better access to knowledge, e.g. by semantically connecting concepts with meaning, can be achieved. The research on applying the combination of these approaches to scientific and technological information analysis explores the advantages and new possibilities for technology trends assessment as well as the semantic connection of concepts which represents a change in the way information research can be done. The different applications of the aforementioned combination are explored by means of the here presented articles. The structure followed in this research is the collection of three papers published in international academic journals indexed in the most prestigious databases and one chapter in a proceedings book of an international congress. The attached articles show the research undertaken to demonstrate the aforementioned benefits of the proposed combination. Despite it can be found many methods and approaches about the assessment of the evolution of technologies, distributed across the literature, there is still a need to better understand which technologies may emerge, which may evolve faster and at what pace can they reach the market. The combination of the techmining approach and the semantic TRIZ approaches allows understanding the trends enriched with a systemic vision of the links, functions, and influences of constituent and enabling elements of a technology. Such systemic link of elements with its components and ecosystem also allows for a multi-dimensional view of a technology and further reduces the uncertainty to preview the progress of a technology. The papers presented in this dissertation are based on the combination of the TRIZ methodology, the techmining approach and the semantic TRIZ approach, applied to different technologies in different domains, to proof the advantages and implications of the combination. The articles try the different interactions of the combined approaches, applied to the assessment of different technologies, such as lithium batteries for the electric car, a medical case linked to a disease known as Meniére's Disease, the prognosis of prostate cancer, and the usage of probiotics as substitutes of antibiotics in the animal health. The wide range of technologies was selected to show the clear benefits of either combining the two approaches or applying predominantly one of them in the case of the Meniére's disease article. That difference in the nature of technologies also helped to better understand the systemic point of view of the technology, exploring new applications based on the general system theory from Bertalanffy as well as other related approaches about technologies. / El propósito de la presente tesis es la exploración y la demostración de la combinación de dos enfoques metodológicos, la minería de textos y la visión sistémica de TRIZ reforzada con la semántica, pueden aportar un mayor y mas exhaustivo análisis de la evolución de una tecnología. Ambos enfoques no habían sido combinados antes del primero de los cuatro artículos que representan esta tesis por compendio de publicaciones, aunque dicha combinación ha sido crecientemente publicada en la literatura científica, para multiples propósitos desde entonces. Un segundo aporte proporcionado por esta combinación es la mejora de la capacidad de acceso al conocimiento y cómo ello supone un avance para el descubrimiento a través de literaturas no relacionadas "disparate literature discovery" de una forma metódica y científica. El elemento común en los artículos aquí presentados es el aprovechamiento de techmining, esto es, la minería de textos con base en la gestión tecnológica, por ejemplo mediante el perfilado de tecnologías, junto al enfoque de la metodología TRIZ potenciada por el análisis sintáctico y semántico, esto es, mediante la conexión semántica de conceptos, para un análisis más completo de la evolución tecnológica, proporcionando al mismo tiempo un acceso más racional al conocimiento. La investigación sobre la aplicación de la citada combinación al análisis de información científica y tecnológica explora las ventajas y nuevas posibilidades en la evaluación del avance de la tecnología, así como la conexión semántica de conceptos que representa nuevas posibilidades en la forma en que la investigación textual puede hacerse. La estructura de la investigación aquí presentada se muestra a través de los artículos publicados en revistas internacionales de alto impacto y el capítulo de los 'proceedings' de un congreso internacional. Dichos artículos muestran la investigación llevada a cabo para demostrar los beneficios mencionados de la combinación propuesta. A pesar de la gran actividad de investigación y de la existencia de varios enfoques para la prospectiva y la previsión tecnológica presentes en la literatura científica, existe aún la necesidad de entender qué tecnologías pueden emerger, pueden evolucionar más rápido y a qué velocidad pueden llegar al mercado. La combinación de los enfoques de minería tecnológica o techmining y TRIZ semántico permite entender las tendencias de una tecnología dada, enriquecida con una visión de su sistémica, y teniendo en cuenta las conexiones de sus elementos y las influencias de sus elementos constituyentes. Tal conexión entre los components y su entorno permite una vision multidimensional de la tecnología reduciendo más aún la incertidumbre en la previsión de la evolución de una tecnología. Los artículos presentados en esta tesis son aplicaciones y exploraciones de la combinación de mencionada, a diferentes tecnologías de diversos ámbitos muy dispares entre sí, con el fin de demostrar sus ventajas e implicaciones. Los artículos tratan las diferentes interacciones entre ambos enfoques de trabajo, aplicados a tecnologías como baterías de litio para los vehículos eléctricos, un caso médico ligado a una dolencia como el síndrome de Méniere, a la prognosis del cáncer de próstata y al uso de probióticos en la alimentación animal como sustitución de los antibióticos. Este amplio rango de tecnologías han sido seleccionados para mostrar las ventajas, de forma más objetiva, de la combinación de ambos enfoques o con predominancia de alguno en particular, como es el caso del artículo explorando el síndrome de Méniere. Estas exploraciones permiten también entender mejor el punto de vista sistémico de una tecnología, descubriendo nuevas aplicaciones basadas en la teoría general de sistemas de Bertalanffy así como en otros enfoques relacionados. / El propòsit de la present tesi és l'exploració i la demostració de la combinació de dos enfocaments metodològics, la minería de textes i la visió sistémica de TRIZ, reforçada amb la sintáctica i la semántica, mostrant que poden oferir un abast més gran i més holístic en l'enteniment de l'evolució d'una tecnología. Tots dos enfocaments no habían estat combinats abans del primer article dels quatre que composen aquesta tesi, però creixentment combinat dins la literatura científica per a múltiples propostes des de la primera publicació. Una segona aportació proporcionada per aquesta combinació és la millora de la capacitat d'accés al coneixement, i de com això suposa un avanç en l'àrea de recerca a traves de literatures no relacionades "disparate literature discovery" d'una forma metòdica i científica. L'element comú en els articles presentats en aquesta tesi és l'aprofitament de la mineria de textos amb base en la gestió tecnològica, 'techmining', per exemple mitjançant el perfilat de tecnologies, al costat de l'enfocament de la metodologia TRIZ potenciada per l'anàlisi sintàctica i semàntica, mitjançant la conexión semántica de conceptes, per assolir un anàlisi més complet de l'evolució tecnològica, així com per a garantir un accés més racional al coneixement. La investigació de l'aplicació de la combinació dels dos enfocaments a l'anàlisi d'informació científica i tecnològica realizat, exploren els avantatges i noves possibilitats en l'avaluació de l'avanç de tecnologies, així com la conexión de conceptes uqe representa noves possibilitats en la forma en què la investigació textual pot fer-se. L'estructura de la investigació ací presentada es mostra a través dels articles publicats i el capítol dels 'proceedings' d'un congrés internacional. Aquests articles mostren la investigació duta a terme per demostrar els beneficis esmentats. Tot i la gran activitat de recerca i enfocaments per a la prospectiva i la previsió tecnològica existents a la literatura científica, existeix encara la necessitat d'entendre quines tecnologies poden emergir, poden evolucionar més ràpid i a quina velocitat poden arribar al mercat. La combinació dels enfocaments de mineria tecnològica o 'techmining' i TRIZ semàntic permet entendre les tendències d'una tecnologia donada, amb una visió del seu sistema, les connexions dels seus elements i les influències dels elements constituents. Els articles presentats en aquesta tesi són aplicacions i exploracions de la combinació de la metodologia TRIZ, la seva potenciació mitjançant la semàntica i el techmining a diferents tecnologies de diversos àmbits, alguns molt dispars entre si, per tal de demostrar les seves avantatges i implicacions. Els articles tracten les diferents interaccions entre els dos enfocaments de treball, aplicats a tecnologies com bateries de liti per als vehicles elèctrics, un cas mèdic lligat a una malaltia com la síndrome de Ménière, a la prognosi del càncer de pròstata i en alimentació, a l'ús de probiòtics en l'alimentació animal com a substitució dels antibiòtics. Aquest ampli rang de tecnologies han estat seleccionats per mostrar els avantatges de forma més objectiva, de la combinació de tots dos enfocaments o amb predominança d'algun en particular, com és el cas de l'article explorant la síndrome de Ménière. Aquestes exploracions permeten també entendre millor el punt de vista sistèmic d'una tecnologia, descobrint noves aplicacions amb base en la teoria general de sistemes de Bertalanffy així com altres treballs relacionats. / Vicente Gomila, JM. (2017). The combination of the disciplines of Techmining and semantic TRIZ for better and faster analyzing technology evolution [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/89088 / TESIS

To fill a gap in the literature and to better inform decision making in oncology, this doctoral thesis investigates the role and impact of analytical methods in the economic evaluation of oncology medications through three main chapters which have been recently published. Chapter 2 presents a systematic literature survey of published economic evaluations in oncology over a 10-year period in order to identify, examine, and describe analytical methods that have been utilized (published in Pharmacoeconomics Open in 2021). This chapter demonstrated that greater detail in reporting of extrapolation methods, statistical techniques, and validation procedures is needed in order to conform with best practices outlined in existing economic evaluation guidelines. Chapter 3 complements the work of chapter 2 but takes a different perspective through an examination of the methods reported in economic evaluations published by HTA agencies in Canada, the UK, and Australia (published in Current Oncology in 2022). This chapter revealed significant reporting discrepancies across the agencies and concluded that common standards for reporting the results of HTAs should be implemented. Building on chapters 2 and 3, chapter 4 provides a model-based health technology re-assessment of an oncology drug approved on the basis of interim trial data using recently published long-term follow up data (published in Current Oncology in 2023). The findings from this chapter highlight the importance of transparency in the reporting of methods, the impact of using a life-cycle approach to HTA, and demonstrate the existence of a tradeoff between clinical/economic uncertainty and the value of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The final chapter provides the overall conclusions of the research and presents avenues for future research. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The objective of the technology assessment (TA) process is to understand problematic and undesirable consequences from the development and application of technology. TA advocates for the engagement of technology experts and stakeholders to understand the effects of technology. However, TA is often criticized that the decision-making process is not transparent - leaving stakeholders wondering if their contributions were heard. Furthermore, the methods have limited capability for conducting tradeoff analysis between the organizational objectives and conflicting stakeholder perspectives that can result in unintended consequences. Finally, these methods are static making it difficult to update and reassess decision alternatives when new information about issues becomes available. This dissertation research addresses these problems by developing a new technology assessment methodology using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (Fuzzy Cognitive TA - FCTA). This novel approach supports both stages of the process: capturing expert and stakeholder perspectives in cognitive maps, and then using FCM for assessment and decision-making. The methodology shows how experts and stakeholders perceive the value or harm of a technology alternative, which stakeholders share the same perspectives, and how these perspectives change over time. The methodology also shows the degree to which expert and stakeholder perspectives are in support or in conflict with the organizational objectives to help avoid the direct and indirect consequences associated with the decision. Finally, the methodology shows how new or changing perspectives by experts and stakeholders affect the outcome of the decision to improve system knowledge. The research applies the FCTA methodology with a real-world Environmental Impact Study conducted by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). BPA is a U.S. federal agency that provides about a third of the electric power and 75 percent of the high-voltage electric transmission in the Pacific Northwest.

The transformation of the Swedish Armed Forces is bringing about major changes in many areas. Indirect fire is one capability affected by these changes. Financial savings, a shrinking organization and higher eligibility requirements mean that fewer soldiers will gain access to exclusive high-tech support resources such as the JAS 39 Gripen aircraft and the ARCHER artillery system. This thesis aims to examine whether access to indirect fire capability can be increased through the use of civilian products and communication networks. Technology development in the civilian mobile communications area is exponential and nations such as the USA, facing challenges similar to those of the Swedish Armed Forces, devote substantial resources to research and development. Is the use of mobile phones for military purposes the innovation needed by the Swedish Armed Forces, do the necessary technical conditions exist and is the technology applicable during peace and wartime operations? The results indicate that the military use of commercial technology is too low at the moment, but that the technology itself sets no limits, and that there is a need and a demand to develop military mobile apps. The robustness of commercial networks does not meet Armed Forces’ requirements and the Armed Forces need a clear strategy that states the aims and objectives before procurement and implementation is possible. The results show further that, regardless of the challenges identified, there are good reasons to continue to pursue these issues in order to build up experience and knowledge in this area of technology. The development of civil mobile phone technology for military purposes will mean that there is an economically viable resource to use in the future.

No description available.

Dichotic tests evaluate binaural integration through simultaneous presentation of different stimuli to each ear of a listener who has normal hearing sensitivity in both ears. Dichotic listening deficits may lead to problems with language, communication, reading, or academic performance. If accurately identified, dichotic deficits may be treatable with listening training or managed with accommodation. However, it is not clear which of several commercially-available dichotic test recordings are best for audiologists to use when assessing binaural integration in children. Literature review revealed limited evidence of reliability, accuracy, usefulness, or value for dichotic tests applied to children. Of 11 dichotic tests identified, five reported some evidence of test-retest reliability. Correlation between results on repeated administration was moderate to good (r=0.59 to 0.92). Evidence of accuracy was identified for 5 tests but was not generalizable due to significant limitations in study design. No evidence was found to either support or dispute claims of usefulness or value. Since reliability is a necessary prerequisite for good test performance, we sought to directly compare test-retest reliability for three dichotic measures: SCAN-3 Competing Words (CW), Musiek's Double Dichotic Digits (DD-M), and Bergen Dichotic Listening Test with Consonant-Vowel Syllables (CV-B). Sixty English-speaking children, 7-14 years old with normal hearing, had a single study-visit during which each test was administered twice. Changes on retest were compared to binomial model predictions, summarized by within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and compared among tests. Correlates of variance were explored. All 3 tests had reliability within bounds predicted by binomial model. Forty-item scores were more reliable (Sw=5%) than those based on 20-30 items (Sw=6-8%). No associations between participant characteristics and reliability were found. CW and DD-M were evaluated for evidence of agreement and decision consistency. Although participants were rank ordered similarly by right ear (ρ = 0.58), left ear (ρ = 0.51) and total (ρ = 0.73) scores, the tests did not agree on ranking by inter-aural asymmetry (ρ =0.18). CW and DD-M did not agree on direction of ear advantage (κ = 0.01, p = 0.93) and had poor agreement on which children displayed dichotic deficits (κ = 0.22, p < 0.01). DD identified significantly more participants with deficits (n=18) than CW (n=3) (p < 0.001). Although dichotic procedures show moderate reliability, their precision is limited. Assessment of their accuracy is limited by the absence of a widely-accepted gold standard reference test, but two commonly used tests failed to agree on which children had deficits. The data do not yet support routine clinical use of dichotic tests of binaural integration with children. Additional research is needed to determine if there are any conditions under which dichotic procedures demonstrate usefulness or value.

A tuberculose (TB) é um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo, necessitando ainda de pesquisas que considerem aspectos operacionais de tratamento e controle de sua disseminação, de forma a contemplar questões econômicas; especialmente no que tange à avaliação de tecnologias em saúde. Objetivo: Conduzir uma análise custo-efetividade de tratamento diretamente observado (TDO) da tuberculose, comparando estratégias de tratamento sob perspectiva da sociedade. Materiais e métodos: Avaliação econômica completa do tratamento de pacientes com tuberculose via administração de medicamentos com acompanhamento de visitador sanitário (VS), contemplando microcusteio parcial por meio de coleta de dados em prontuários de amostra de 92 pacientes e entrevistas com profissionais de saúde do Programa de Controle de Tuberculose no Centro de Saúde Escola da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo, seguida de análise custo-efetividade baseada em inquérito aplicado na forma de entrevistas a 92 pacientes nos cinco distritos sanitários de saúde de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Resultados: Os custos estimados para TDO realizado com visitadores sanitários (TDO-VS) foram US$1.642,93 ao sistema de saúde e US$942,35 aos pacientes e familiares. O custo global societário foi US$2.585,28. Em comparação com TDO realizado por supervisores domiciliares (TDO-SD), cujo custo médio por paciente foi US$430,03 em estudo recentemente publicado, o custo médio por paciente em TDO-VS foi US$363,12; sendo que ambos apresentaram efetividade similar. Conclusão: O TDOVS apresentou menor custo em relação ao mesmo grau de efetividade no que tange à cura de tuberculose em comparação com TDO-SD. Os resultados obtidos apresentam subsídios à adoção de uma alternativa de tratamento de TB aos gestores em saúde no processo de tomada de decisão no contexto do Programa de Controle da Tuberculose. / Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide, requiring further research to consider operational aspects of treatment and control its spread, in order to cover economic issues; especially with regard to the evaluation of health technologies. Objective: Conduct a cost-effectiveness of directly observed treatment (DOTS) tuberculosis, comparing treatment strategies in perspective of society. Methods: Full Economic evaluation of the treatment of tuberculosis patients via administration of drugs with accompanying health visitor (HV), covering partial microcusteio through data collection sample of medical records of 92 patients and interviews with Program health professionals Tuberculosis Control in the health Center of Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, followed by cost-effectiveness analysis based on survey conducted in the form of interviews with 92 patients in five health districts Ribeirão Preto health, estate of São Paulo. Results: The estimated costs for DOT conducted with health visitors (DOT-HV) were US$ 1,642.93 to the health system and US$ 942.35 to patients and families. The corporate overall cost was US $ 2,585.28. Compared with DOT done by home supervisors (DOT-HS), the average cost per patient was US $ 430.03 in a recent study, the average cost per patient in DOT-HV was US $ 363.12; both of which showed similar effectiveness. Conclusion: DOT-HV had lower cost compared to the same degree of effectiveness with regard to tuberculosis cure compared with DOT-HS. The results obtained are subsidies to the adoption of an alternative TB treatment to health management in the decision-making process in the context of the Tuberculosis Control Program.

Thesis. 1977. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil Engineering. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Vita. / Includes bibliographies. / Ph.D.

A Avaliação Tecnológica em Saúde (ATS) é uma sistemática que avalia os impactos clínicos, sociais e econômicos das tecnologias em saúde e tem como finalidade auxiliar os gestores na tomada de decisão quanto ao desenvolvimento, incorporação e descontinuação destas tecnologias. Agências de ATS têm destacado a importância da existência de métodos que visem padronizar e implantar esta sistemática em diferentes contextos. Assim, o objetivo geral desta tese é propor procedimentos para apoiar a avaliação tecnológica de equipamentos médico-hospitalares, por meio de uma pesquisa construtiva (Constructive Research) aplicada à terapia de hemodiálise. Os procedimentos propostos compõem um modelo adaptado do EuroScan, modelo desenvolvido por agências Europeias e indicado como boa prática pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Também são procedimentos ajustados às necessidades de pesquisadores de centros regionais de avaliação de equipamentos médico-hospitalares. Inicialmente, foi desenvolvida uma coleta de dados sobre os problemas de desenvolvimento e incorporação das tecnologias da saúde por meio de duas fontes: uma revisão sistemática de literatura sobre oportunidades de melhorias do EuroScan no mundo e discussões com pesquisadores no país. A partir destas investigações foi proposto um modelo preliminar de ATS, aplicado para o domínio Operacional e de Inovação na hemodiálise. Finalmente a aplicação foi validada e examinada por especialistas para a geração de um modelo final. Os principais procedimentos resultantes foram: (i) validação da relevância das avaliações para novos desenvolvimentos e incorporações tecnológicas do ponto de vista de diferentes especialistas, integrando diferentes áreas do conhecimento na ATS; (ii) operação de Observatórios Tecnológicos, auxiliando na definição das tecnologias e domínios a serem avaliadas; (iii) definição de técnicas para análise dos domínios de ATS, como o uso de séries temporais e o Technology Roadmap (TRM) para previsões sobre o futuro das inovações e o uso das dimensões da usabilidade e de incidentes críticos de riscos para os aspectos operacionais; e (iv) integração das diretrizes de ATS no Brasil em um único modelo, amparando pesquisadores não relacionados a saúde na compreensão sobre ATS e no desenvolvimento ágil de novos estudos tanto para equipamentos emergentes como em uso. Já a avaliação dos domínios selecionados para a hemodiálise resultou: (i) na identificação de um crescimento médio anual de 7% dos indicadores da terapia; (ii) no diagnóstico de usabilidade de máquinas eficazes, porém com possibilidades de gerarem maior satisfação aos usuários quanto: ao espaço entre elas, a redução dos desperdícios de água e materiais, aos planos de manutenção para evitar temperaturas elevadas, a capacitação visando mais atenção e treinamento para tarefas de apoio e aos aspectos de display (realimentação de dados e visualização); e (iii) na consolidação entre profissionais sobre um futuro promissor, para os próximos 10 anos no Brasil, da assistência homecare com máquinas de hemodiálise portáteis, mais seguras e sustentáveis. / The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a systematic evaluation of clinical, social and economic impacts of health technologies aiming to assist managers in the decision making process related to the development, consolidation and discontinuation of these technologies. HTA agencies have been highlighting the importance of methods to standardize and apply this systematic evaluation in different contexts. Thus, the general objective of this thesis is to propose procedures to support the technology assessment of medical-hospital equipment through a constructive research applied to hemodialysis therapy. The proposed procedures compose a EuroScan adapted model, which was developed by European agencies and is recommended as a good practice by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and also are procedures adjusted to the needs of researchers in regional centers of medical equipment assessment. Initially, a data collection on the problems of developing and incorporating health technologies was carried out using two sources: a systematic review of the literature on opportunities to improve the EuroScan around the world and discussions with Brazilian researchers. Based on these investigations, it was proposed a preliminary HTA model applied to the hemodialysis’ Operational and Innovation domain. The application of the model was reviewed and evaluated by experts to produce a final version. The main resulting procedures were: (i) to validate the importance of assessments for new technological developments and incorporations considering the point of view of different experts from diverse knowledge areas; (ii) to operate Technological Observatories, assisting to define the technologies and domains to be evaluated; (iii) to set techniques for the analysis of HTA domains such as the use of time series and the Technology Roadmap (TRM) to make predictions about the future of innovations and the use of usability dimensions and critical incidents of risks to the operational aspects; and (iv) to integrate HTA Brazilian guidelines in a single model, supporting researchers not related to health in the understanding of HTA and fast development of new studies for both emerging and in use equipment. The assessment of the domains selected for hemodialysis led to: (i) the identification of an annual growth in therapy indicators (7% in average); (ii) the usability diagnosis of efficient machines, however with the potential to generate greater user satisfaction considering: distance between machines, reduction in the waste of water and materials, maintenance plans to avoid high temperatures, training aiming more attention to supporting tasks as well as focus on display aspects (data feedback and visualization); and (iii) the consolidation among professionals of a future, for the next 10 years in Brazil, based on homecare with portable machines, safer and more sustainable.

A tuberculose (TB) é um grave problema de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo, necessitando ainda de pesquisas que considerem aspectos operacionais de tratamento e controle de sua disseminação, de forma a contemplar questões econômicas; especialmente no que tange à avaliação de tecnologias em saúde. Objetivo: Conduzir uma análise custo-efetividade de tratamento diretamente observado (TDO) da tuberculose, comparando estratégias de tratamento sob perspectiva da sociedade. Materiais e métodos: Avaliação econômica completa do tratamento de pacientes com tuberculose via administração de medicamentos com acompanhamento de visitador sanitário (VS), contemplando microcusteio parcial por meio de coleta de dados em prontuários de amostra de 92 pacientes e entrevistas com profissionais de saúde do Programa de Controle de Tuberculose no Centro de Saúde Escola da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo, seguida de análise custo-efetividade baseada em inquérito aplicado na forma de entrevistas a 92 pacientes nos cinco distritos sanitários de saúde de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Resultados: Os custos estimados para TDO realizado com visitadores sanitários (TDO-VS) foram US$1.642,93 ao sistema de saúde e US$942,35 aos pacientes e familiares. O custo global societário foi US$2.585,28. Em comparação com TDO realizado por supervisores domiciliares (TDO-SD), cujo custo médio por paciente foi US$430,03 em estudo recentemente publicado, o custo médio por paciente em TDO-VS foi US$363,12; sendo que ambos apresentaram efetividade similar. Conclusão: O TDOVS apresentou menor custo em relação ao mesmo grau de efetividade no que tange à cura de tuberculose em comparação com TDO-SD. Os resultados obtidos apresentam subsídios à adoção de uma alternativa de tratamento de TB aos gestores em saúde no processo de tomada de decisão no contexto do Programa de Controle da Tuberculose. / Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide, requiring further research to consider operational aspects of treatment and control its spread, in order to cover economic issues; especially with regard to the evaluation of health technologies. Objective: Conduct a cost-effectiveness of directly observed treatment (DOTS) tuberculosis, comparing treatment strategies in perspective of society. Methods: Full Economic evaluation of the treatment of tuberculosis patients via administration of drugs with accompanying health visitor (HV), covering partial microcusteio through data collection sample of medical records of 92 patients and interviews with Program health professionals Tuberculosis Control in the health Center of Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, followed by cost-effectiveness analysis based on survey conducted in the form of interviews with 92 patients in five health districts Ribeirão Preto health, estate of São Paulo. Results: The estimated costs for DOT conducted with health visitors (DOT-HV) were US$ 1,642.93 to the health system and US$ 942.35 to patients and families. The corporate overall cost was US $ 2,585.28. Compared with DOT done by home supervisors (DOT-HS), the average cost per patient was US $ 430.03 in a recent study, the average cost per patient in DOT-HV was US $ 363.12; both of which showed similar effectiveness. Conclusion: DOT-HV had lower cost compared to the same degree of effectiveness with regard to tuberculosis cure compared with DOT-HS. The results obtained are subsidies to the adoption of an alternative TB treatment to health management in the decision-making process in the context of the Tuberculosis Control Program.