Consultation Process and Methods
How is the patients' voice integrated into INESSS's work?
There are two ways to contribute to the findings of the Direction de l'évaluation des médicaments et des technologies à fins de remboursement: the call for contributions and the call for solicitations.
Call for Contributions: Contribution by Questionnaire
A request for contribution is published indicating the drug or technology under evaluation. The consultation period begins four weeks before the date targeted by the manufacturer for submitting its application for evaluation. It lasts a total of seven weeks. The responses indicated in this questionnaire must be forwarded to the INESSS before the end of the period set for each drug, so that they can be processed as part of the evaluation process. You can find more information on this subject on the Make a comment on a drug page.
Solicitation: Contribution by Interview or Focus Group
For certain evaluations, the INESSS may decide to organize consultations (interviews or focus groups) following a solicitation invitation. An invitation to participate in a consultation is posted on the INESSS website, on social networks, and through the INESSS Express eNewsletter. Those interested in participating complete the selection questionnaire attached to the invitation. A selection process has been established to ensure experience diversity and profiles.
Only those who respond to the invitation within the allotted time and who are selected are contacted by a member of the project team.
Before the Meeting
An e-mail invitation is sent to those selected, along with the following documents:
- A participant's guide. This guide outlines the topics to be discussed at the meeting and summarizes the main participation stages.
- A participation agreement. A participation agreement describing the expectations and commitments between the participants and the INESSS will have to be signed. It should be noted that the INESSS takes all possible steps to protect the confidentiality of the information transmitted, in compliance with the applicable laws, including the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information (RLRQ, chap. A-2.1).
- A conflict of interest and role declaration form. The Institute applies its policy on the prevention, identification, evaluation, and management of conflicts of interest and roles for external INESSS collaborators. A form must therefore be completed and signed in application of this policy.
These documents must be read and completed when received and before attending the meeting.
Meeting Procedure
Interviews and discussion groups are conducted virtually using the Microsoft Teams platform. Support is provided for its use. This communication tool is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge web browsers. Participants need an Internet connection and a computer equipped with a microphone (and a camera, optional but preferable).
After the Meeting
A financial compensation form is sent to all participants. The signed form will be processed as soon as possible. The financial compensation will be sent by mail.
Participatory Methodology - Data Analysis from the Perspective of Patients, Caregivers, and Patient Associations
Experiential data from questionnaires, full transcripts of interviews or focus groups are collected, analyzed, and synthesized to ensure methodological rigor and efficiency, in order to provide a different perspective on a drug - the perspective of patients and caregivers. The findings are used for deliberative purposes, and may be incorporated into the INESSS recommendation, which is forwarded to the Ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux and published.
If you have any questions about the consultation process for drugs evaluated for listing purposes, please contact our team at the following e-mail address: plan.commentaires.inscription@inesss.qc.ca