Survey Objectives
Conducted since 2013, the survey investigates the infrastructure and availability of information and communication technology (ICT) systems and applications in healthcare facilities in Brazil. It also observes how physicians and nurses use these tools in their work, in addition to the main barriers to their adoption. In even-numbered years, the survey is conducted with managers and healthcare professionals, and in odd-numbered years, it is conducted only with managers.
Survey Areas
The ICT in Health survey seeks to analyze the stage of ICT adoption in Brazilian healthcare facilities, developing indicators related to healthcare facilities and professionals. The survey investigates information in relation to ICT use, access and appropriation, such as:
In healthcare facilities:
- ICT infrastructure and information technology (IT) management;
- Information security;
- Electronic health records and information exchange;
- Services offered to patients and telehealth;
- Emerging technologies.
For health professionals (physicians and nurses):
- Profile of the professionals;
- ICT access and use;
- Appropriation of these technologies.
Institutional Support
The survey receives support from the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MS), the National Regulatory Agency for Private Health Insurance and Plans (ANS), the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (Conasems), and other representatives from the government, civil society and experts connected to important universities in the country.
International References
The survey adheres to frameworks published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO-WHO).
Methodology
The survey relies on information provided by the National Registry of Healthcare Facilities (CNES), maintained by the Ministry of Health. The sample design is based on a stratified sampling of healthcare facilities and selection with probability proportional to size (PPS). The strata considered for selection are designed for presentation of quality results for the domains of interest of the survey.
Cetic.br and Unesco
In 2012, Cetic.br became a UNESCO Category 2 Center, the first of its kind dedicated to the development of information and knowledge societies. The Center is linked to the Communication and Information (CI) Sector, one of UNESCO’s five areas of work. It contributes to achieving the organization’s strategic objectives by strengthening its efforts to monitor the building of information and knowledge societies. Cetic.br’s scope of action includes Latin America and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa.
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