Débat public sur la valeur sociale des innovations médicales : l'expérience d'un Café scientifique
Medical innovations have significant influence on clinical practice, policy-making and public expectation towards the health care system. In the context of public health care systems, the cost of health innovation is a major barrier to its adoption even if they are often portrayed in the media as inherently desirable. Such a framing of the problem impedes the debate on what makes social and technological health innovations relevant from a population health perspective. Thus it is interesting to take advantage of an innovative communicational process, the Café scientifique. This research project analyzes a Café scientifique that took place in March 2007 which established a dialogue between four experts and around 80 members of the public on health innovation issues. The objectives are: 1) to analyze the application of the Café scientifique, and 2) to analyze its impact on participants. This single case study uses qualitative and quantitative data: 1) semi-participative observation; 2) audiovisual recording of the activity; 3) surveys distributed at the end of the activity; 4) semi-directed interviews (n=11) with participants. Integrated analysis of all data gives a better understanding of how the context is structuring for the debate, describes the main roles adopted by participants, identifies key health innovation issues that were discussed and highlights which features have facilitated or hindered a dialogue between scientists and the public. The Café scientifique is an unusual practice which stirs up interest of both researchers and participants.
Café scientifique Dialogue Health innovation Public science communication Technological choices Democratic values