Table 3 Summary of methods for the focus group with service users
Aim | To explore the experiences of people with a diagnosed psychotic disorder following discharge from hospital regarding their occupational performance in the areas of self-care and leisure. |
Participants | Inclusion criteria: adults between ages of 18–65 with a primary diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, who have been discharged from hospital within the previous 3–6 months Exclusion criteria: being unable to give consent, too unwell to participate as identified by named clinician or requiring an interpreter to participate in the focus group |
Focus group facilitator | A researcher with lived experience of using mental health services and being admitted to hospital asked the questions and a co-facilitator was present. |
Topic guide | Can you all tell us what daily activities you spent your time doing, during the first month after you came out of hospital? And also any daily activities you wanted to do during this time but were unable? Can you all tell us what daily activities you spent your time doing, during the second and third month after you came out of hospital? And also any daily activities you wanted to do during this time but were unable? What activities were important for you to be able to do better, or more independently, during these first 3Â months? |
Recruitment | Clinicians from adult community mental health teams in one NHS trust were asked to identify and ask suitable participants if they would like to hear more about the project from the researcher and read the Participant Information Sheet before deciding to take part. The researcher met with those interested in hearing more about the study and the potential participants’ right to withdraw from the study, or to decline to take part without this affecting the care they receive was emphasised. The focus groups took place in a community mental health team to enable the participants to access support should they become distressed during the focus groups. |
Analysis | Thematic analysis as outlined by Braun and Clark was used and analysis was driven by the research questions [46]. The trustworthiness [47] of the results was ensured through maintaining credibility through the inclusion of direct quotes in the final report. Member checking was not carried out as their perspective on the topic may have changed from those recorded closer to the time of discharge from hospital. Dependability of the findings was ensured by using a recognised form of data analysis. |