PDICSS

The PhD program in clinical and health services research is a unique program in Portugal and it aims to fill an important existing gap in our country. When it was created, more than five years ago, it was intended to respond to the needs and demands increasingly felt and expressed by the community, and in particular the healthcare professionals, regarding high quality educational offers and research training opportunities in clinical research and in health services research. The community was increasingly demanding a structured advanced education and research program that could prepare healthcare and other professionals for the challenges imposed by evidence based practices, the rapid changes in healthcare systems and technologies, health technology assessments and comparative effectiveness evaluations, health systems deficiencies and inequalities and the urge to use and develop tools that could effectively support and improve healthcare and medical decision-making.