title: Automated dose dispensing in Danish primary health care - a technology under construction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to conduct a health technology assessment (HTA) of automated dose dispensing in the Danish primary health care sector. The present article answers the sub question of how various groups of actors spoke about and understood the shaping of automated dose dispensing (positioning in discourses).
  
  
  METHODS
  THE PROJECT UTILIZED TWO METHODS: 11 qualitative research interviews with selected key actors and a net-based qualitative questionnaire of 97 selected practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main types of discourse were identified with respect to the development of automated dose dispensing, namely 'optimistic', 'sceptical' and 'pragmatic'. A wide diversity of opinion about automated dose dispensing was identified among the three discourses and their attendant scenarios. A number of factors are found in all three types of discourse, and are therefore considered to express common recommendations for decision makers and practitioners. These factors are described in the article.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The article argues in favour of HTA, which to a great extent clarifies and initiates the perspectives of various groups of actors about the same technology. Our analyses show that conscious strategies must be employed to make the technology work successfully with the actors involved. The preferences, ideas and proposals for future actions and initiatives identified in the project could be the basis for defining future development strategies.
authors.affiliation: Pharmakon. Hillerød ( Denmark ).
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy and Research Center for Quality in Medicine Use (FKL-center), Faculty of Pharmacy, Copenhagen University ( Denmark ).
authors.forename: Lotte S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Haugbølle
authors.affiliation: Research Consultant, Centre for Applied Health Services Research and Technology Assessment, Southern University of Denmark ( Denmark ).
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Automation; Denmark; Patient Compliance; Qualitative Research