Table 4 Example of thematic analysis
Step 1: Standardised question | Are they (formal support services) reliable or are there sometimes lapses or are they only reliable at certain times? | |||
Step 2: Participant response: | “We don’t have people on a Saturday and a Sunday because it … it was very hit and miss … I didn’t particularly want to get up at seven o’clock on a Saturday morning … … they caught me a couple of times halfway through a shower, which is horrible … There was one weekend when we waited for them to come and at half past 11 they hadn’t come so I said, forget it … So, … We get up on a Saturday now when we want to, well We … have breakfast in dressing gowns, sit and read the paper and then when I feel like it … go and shower … but why not!? We’re retired” | |||
Step 3: Thematic analysis process | Summary | i)Broad descriptive code | ii)Concepts/sub themes | iii)Themes |
Step 3: Thematic analysis of data from summary to theme | Unreliability of weekend service leading to feeling out of control in own home. Cancelled service to regain this. | Formal service - domiciliary care (negative) | Formal service insensitive to circumstances. Control over home life at a cost | Maintaining normality Retaining agency |