Table 3 Stages of analysis and establishing trustworthiness

Stage 1: Data Familiarisation

JO immerses in data and researcher field notes, documents reflections, initial thoughts about codes and themes

Stage 2: Initial generation of codes

JO feeds back initial thoughts to AB, PB, KL for comments, defines coding framework, documents team meetings and decisions

Stage 3: Initial Theme identification

JO triangulates data from theoretical sample, carries out researcher triangulation with AB, makes a diagrammatic map of theme connections and notes about how decisions were made

Stage 4: Reviewing themes

Themes and subthemes reviewed by AB, KL & PB. JO returns to raw data to review and consider whether anything has been omitted and if interpretation ‘fits’

Stage 5: Defining and naming themes

JO returns to field interviewer AB to triangulate data and considers theoretical triangulation with existing published evidence for confirmability. JO, AB, KL& PB discuss themes and reach consensus.

Stage 6: Producing the paper

JO feeds back findings informally to participants wishing to remain involved (carries out member checking), explains reasoning for choices and the processes incurred. JO drafts the paper and this is then fed back on by KL, AB & PB.