Table 6 Theme 3: Learning in the online environment

THEME 3: LEARNING IN THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

Accessibility Convenience

Work integration

Home responsibilities

Travel

It was good for me to receive it at home, even if I was at work, I would take time off and I would lock myself in an office and put my earphones and I would do it at work if I was not able to do it at home. It was convenient with the fact that I didn’t have to travel to all the things. Gr1_P4

That was nice that it happened during lockdown because all my kids were home so it wasn’t a case of when I had my video calls that I would need to completely forget about them. They were all there, they could all support and be with each other while I had my sessions. Gr3_P6

It was different in terms of where you individually have people that have to go to a hospital, people who have to travel, didn’t have to go out of their space to be part of it. So that to me was amazing so I didn’t find that at all challenging. Gr3_P6

And that they gave you the data meant that you didn’t have to worry about am I going to have money to buy data, am I going to be able to participate in the group this week. So that goes hand in hand. It just made it, it is convenient. Gr3_P6

Safety

Emotional safety

COVID safety

I enjoyed the interaction the most. So, it was very comforting for me to see that I am not alone, there were other people experiencing pain as well, and there were other people that I could relate to. So, I think that was the best part, having people that I can relate to as well. Gr1_P4

I felt very good because for me it is something that I needed and at the time I just felt with the risk of going to hospital I wasn’t prepared to go there and if I could do it on WhatsApp it will be much better for me. Gr2_P5

Fun

Laughter

Joyful

You know, it was such fun. Like we would exercise and someone would do something silly, we will not make a joke out of it but we all would laugh together just for the fun of it, but not like pick on the one at all – it was very joyful. For me it was like fun, joyful and you are healthy in doing, and just like doing it with other people it’s like, almost like it’s more encouragement for you to keep at this. Gr2_P5

It was funny, but it was helpful. You know where you can let your hair down and just not worry for a couple of moments. That was the nice thing about the physiotherapist, and she would tell you how far to push yourself, how far not to push yourself. Gr3_P6

The technology

Data bundles

Data sponsorship

I think if you take anybody into consideration with, especially because it was lockdown and things were so horrible, that mere gesture of I will give you data so that you can be part of the group so that we can assist you to manage your pain better, it was just, I have no words to describe the positivity of it. Gr3_P6

I had no money but they provided me with 2G data every Monday, so I had no problem with data. I had data to do everything they needed me to do and the video calls with group members individually if they needed my support, and to post my videos and I had no problem with my internet connection. Gr1_P3

It was really nice because like if I had to do it on WhatsApp and they didn’t supply me with data I don’t think I would have been able to participate in it. Gr2_P5

User competence

No. I think the older people in our group had difficulty in dealing or handling their video calls… I noticed that our physiotherapist and our psychologist, they struggled a lot to explain to the older people how to better their signal. Gr3_P6

Technology training

I think when they do this with people and especially with older people, they need to …I think they should explain to them just send them a little video, just explain to them? Like all the exercises just show them how to mute the voice so that they can hear you, but we don’t necessarily hear them which means everything in the background doesn’t echo on the phone, or how to disconnect their the visual and still hear what’s happening. So, if there was a video they could create, especially the older ones, so that they know how to, it will make the process much easier. Gr3_P6

Impact of the home environment

Background noise

Family circumstances

It was very nice but sometimes it was a little bit of a challenge getting the kids not to make a noise, so some days – my mom stays around the corner from me – so when I know it is busy by me, I will go to my mom’s house just to get quietness sometimes, but it was very nice – I enjoyed it. Gr2_P5

The workbook

Writing

Order of information

Because I love the book, I love writing in my book, doing my homework, I just hated that if I was supposed to be on page 25 then I would actually end up on page 9 and 10 because that is where I thought that was the base of what you were learning, but then it was supposed to not be on that page. So it was, it was a bit confusing about what the right sections are. But what I loved about the material that we got. Gr3_P6

Course organisation

Duration of course

The only thing that I would suggest is maybe for the program just to be a bit longer. We are currently doing the 6-week program. So maybe for each session have two weeks per module. So maybe 2 weeks per module. I think it would assist us in sticking to our goals and maintaining that balance where you can live life with the pain but also doing things that would lessen your pain. Gr1_P4

Follow up

You know what I would suggest, I liked everything about it. Like even now the group is finished if they would still like, just now and then, just do a check-up and maybe have a group exercise again, because like you know, some of us may not continue b Gr2_P5