Discussion: Making Sense of Patients’ Perspectives, Experiences, and Involvement in HTA

Abstract Three chapters in Part II of this book provide readers with clear guidance on the ways in which specific qualitative and quantitative methods can elicit patients’ perspectives, experiences, and preferences, while a fourth chapter takes stock of how patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) can be assessed. These chapters make more explicit the need to consider the epistemological underpinnings of the patient’s voice as well as the contexts in which their perspective is being articulated. This chapter adopts a qualitative thinking perspective across its four sections. It critically discusses the kinds of qualitative evidence that HTA can integrate (1), summarises key lessons from the four chapters (2), identifies methodological challenges that lie ahead (3), and formulates take-home messages for a rigorous use of qualitative evidence in HTA (4). This chapter is based on the recognition that a mature and rich qualitative research scholarship can deepen our understanding of the strengths, limitations, and comparative relevance of different methods for eliciting patients’ perspectives and for contextualising the use of qualitative evidence in HTA.