The qualitative analysis of contributions received in CONITEC’s public consultations: Theoretical and methodological reflections

Abstract

The National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation in the Unified Health System (CONITEC) is responsible for evaluating medicines, products and procedures for the purposes of incorporating, amplifying or excluding these technologies in Brazil’s public health system. The participation of society is part of this evaluation process and also occurs through public consultations. This article presents and discusses the methodological proposal constructed to qualitatively analyze the information related to the experience and opinion expressed by participants in these consultations. In this sense, it describes, substantiates and synthesizes the stages of the methodology constructed, as well as it addresses aspects related to data organization, interpretation and representation. Furthermore, it describes the instruments used to enable the analysis, such as a software, as well as the contributions that qualitative analytical approach can bring to the field of Health Technology Assessment, considering the predominance of biomedical knowledge and quantitative approaches.