## 3 Methodology
### Comparative Matrix of Healthcare Assessment Methods  
The comparative analysis aims at contrasting the selected rating systems for assessing the performance of healthcare buildings. Considering the criteria requirements and guidelines of the different methods used, it is possible to identify, categorise, and standardise the critical building performance [12] criteria that will influence the decision-making process the most.  
Analysing the categories of the considered HBSA methods, it is possible to conclude that there are, on one hand, different categories referring to the same sustainability criteria and, on the other, categories with similar denominations that assess completely different criteria. Therefore, thirteen core sustainability criteria were identified, and the categories of the different methods analysed were grouped in this framework. According to this organisation, the categories most commonly assessed within the analysed methods are Energy (21%) and Indoor Environmental Quality (17%). Other important categories are Materials and Resources (13%), followed by Site Quality, Management, Water, Waste, and Transport and Pollution, which are assessed by the majority of the methods. Nevertheless, there are some categories only considered by a few or one of the BSA methods. For example, outdoor quality and the economy are two categories that are only covered by the HBSAtool-PT method.  
The HBSAtool-PT method was designed specifically for Portuguese healthcare buildings, considering the national context, European sustainability standards and policies, and other existing and recognised sustainability methods for this type of building [13]. It can evaluate new, existing, and renovated buildings, allowing for future adaptations to new guidelines, standards, or national laws. Thus, it aims to be practical, easily understandable, and flexible to be adapted. This is important to promote sustainable development, construction, operation, and maintenance. The structure of the method is based on 52 indicators, divided into 22 categories, which are integrated into five areas: Environmental; Sociocultural and functional; Economic; Technical; and Site. The sustainability label delivered communicates the performance at the level of each sustainability area and category, allowing a better comparison between different design scenarios.  
The proposed research methodology is based on the exact steps of development of the HBSA method for the specific context of Portugal but considers the Brazilian context. The following research steps are considered:  
1. To define the preliminary list of sustainability indicators based on internationally recognised HBSA methods and international goals for sustainability;
2. To pre-validate the preliminary list of indicators through interviews with the most recognised experts and policymakers in the context of the Brazilian healthcare sector;
3. To propose the final list of indicators based on a survey (Appendix A) distributed to the main Brazilian healthcare buildings' stakeholders;
4. To develop the system of weights of the proposed list of indicators by applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method.