Table 2 Definition of themes and examples
Theme title and definition | Example quotation from working sample | Example quotation from non-working sample |
|---|---|---|
1. Consequences of illness | “It doesn’t impact on anything, ‘cos he doesn’t not do anything because he’s got pain” | “Like making a cup of tea, I’ll say ‘Are you alright, be careful’, I say, ‘Can I help?’ and I know I can’t help at all” |
Extent to which participants reported that the patient’s back pain impacted on their everyday life and activities | ||
2. Nature of work | “My immediate line manager is very supportive” | “There weren’t really a lot they could find she could do” |
Ways in which the nature of patient participants’ particular professions were reported as impacting on whether or not patients had been able to continue in employment with back pain. | ||
3. Patient identity | “He has this determination where he won’t let it, he won’t give in to it and he won’t let it beat him” | “His workmates thought ‘There’s nowt wrong with you, you’re sat down, you’re walking around’, but once he’s sat down, he’s got pain but they can’t see that” |
Refers to participants’ depictions of the patient in relation to their self-management of their back pain condition – hero or victim narrative? |