Table 1 Focus group composition and recruitment of NHS Direct users and non-users
From: Barriers and facilitators to using NHS Direct: a qualitative study of `users’ and `non-users’
Focus group | Location | Age | Gender | Ethnicity | Profile and characteristics | Focus group description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Users (N = 8) | Mid Bedfordshire | 21-46 | Female (9) | White British (7) Mixed: Black Caribbean (1) | High geographical usage area - mothers with children (<5) | Participants recruited from Sure Start centres in Mid-Bedfordshire. Sure Start centres are open to parents, carers and children providing early learning and full day care for pre-school children. |
2 | Users (N = 9) | Mid Bedfordshire | 23-54 | Female (9) | White British (9) | High geographical usage area - mothers with children (<5) | Participants recruited from a range of Sure Start centres in Mid-Bedfordshire. Sure Start centres are open to all parents, carers and children providing early learning and full day care for pre-school children. |
3 | Non-users (N = 10) | Mendip: Moor | 67-93 | Male (6); Female (4) | White British (10) | Older residents with high levels of deprivation residing in isolated rural community | Focus groups were held as part of an existing community group which provides retired adults mainly older (65+) a range of social activities and events. |
4 | Non-users (N = 11) | Mendip: Mells | 67-94 | Female (11) | White British (11) | Older residents with high levels of deprivation residing in isolated rural community | Focus groups were held as part of an existing community group which provides retired adults mainly older (65+) a range of social activities and events. |
5 | Non-users (N = 9) | Mendip: Creech | 64-92 | Female (9) | White British (9) | Older residents living in larger isolated rural community. | Focus groups were held as part of an existing community group which provides retired adults mainly older (65+) a range of social activities and events. |
6 | Non-users (N = 11) | Mendip: Beckington & Rode | 50-87 | Male (3) Female (8) | White British (11) | Middle income families living in moderate suburban semis in a rural area. | Focus groups were held as part of an existing community group which provides retired adults mainly older (65+) a range of social activities and events. |
7 | Non-users (N = 7) | Manchester: Baguley | 36-73 | Male (2) Female (5) | White British (7) | Deprived ward resided by families in low rise social housing with high levels of benefit need. | Participants recruited from a range of community organisations which provide residents with their social, recreational and sporting needs. |
8 | Non-users (N = 11) | Manchester: Gorton North | 16-84 | Male (3) Female (8) | White British (11) | Deprived ward characterised by low income workers in urban terraces. | Participants were recruited from a range of community organisations which provide residents with their social, recreational and sporting needs. |
9 | Non-users (N = 6) | Manchester: Longsight | 26-49 | Male (6) | White British (2) Pakistani (2) Black African (2) | Deprived ward characterised by low income workers in urban terraces and culturally diverse areas. | Participants were recruited from a drop in community centre which provides residents a range of activities focusing on improving health and wellbeing. |