Society and culture influence not only ethical norms but also how decisions are made—meaning that the same health technology may be evaluated differently across societies.

It is important to distinguish between ethical and societal issues. While they may overlap, they are not identical. Certain societal outcomes—such as anxiety related to the use of a technology or impacts on human dignity—may also intersect with clinical or ethical domains, but they represent distinct concerns.

Understanding societal effects involves:

  • Reviewing existing literature, or
  • Conducting original research, often through qualitative methods drawn from disciplines such as sociology and medical anthropology.

Unlike clinical studies that often begin with predefined outcomes, these studies typically explore which outcomes matter most to the affected communities. They are grounded in patient experiences and aim to uncover the social and cultural impact of health technologies.

As such, this is a growing area where patients can play a substantial role in shaping HTA processes—especially in ensuring that societal considerations are adequately captured.