Table 4 Dyads illustrating different combinations of main themes and type of responsesa
Themes | Patient expression | Examples of responses assigned to the three sum-categories of responses | |
|---|---|---|---|
Relationships with others | “If it gets much, a lot, then the nerves kicks in you see” [Talking about a family member] | “Yes that’s …” [Pauses to allow the patient to continue] | Emotion-focused responses |
“Poor thing, yes, she is very clever, but I do feel sorry for them, having to work on this” [Worries that the nursing staff thinks caring for her wound is not a nice task, focus is on the relation not the care delivery] | “It is our job you know” [Provides information/advice] | Content-focused responses | |
“Oh, well, a lot of stuff, you have to deal with a lot of strange stuff because of me” [Patient is getting dressed, focus is on the relation not the care delivery] | [Nursing staff do not comment, focus on next task] | Ignoring / blocking responses | |
Health care-related issues | “You see, there is no point telling the doctor about this, I don’t get any answers anyway” [Discussing need for medical care] | “No?” [Tone of voice invite the patient to elaborate] | Emotion-focused responses |
“Everything is just yuck” [The nursing staff has first suggested that the patient needs to eat more] | “No, but it is just so that if you do, you don’t have to get so tired because like it is, you don’t get much nutrition, and then you have no energy” [Provides information/advice] | Content-focused responses | |
“I do feel the male staff is the worst” [Is not happy with some of the staff at a care service institution] | “Yes, no, I won’t comment on that. But I don’t see it like that.” [Shuts down further discussion, the topic changes] | Ignoring / blocking responses | |
Aging and bodily impairment | “I try to manage myself, but it’s not always easy” [The patient shares her thoughts on being dependant of home care because of bodily impairment] | “No” [Tone of voice invite the patient to elaborate] | Emotion-focused responses |
“It’s this damn knee!” [The patient spontaneously raises this topic] | “Do you have pain in your knee?” [The nursing staff asks specifically about the content and maintains wording used by patient] | Content-focused responses | |
“And I understand, I am not feeling very fit these days you see” [The patient talks about trying to cope with reduced function] | “No, but you’re fine. You just need to take your time moving about.” [Shuts down further discussion, the topic changes] | Ignoring / blocking responses | |
Life narratives and value issues | “No, that was …” [Shares a story about experiencing a loss in the family] | “mm?” [Tone of voice invite the patient to elaborate] | Emotion-focused responses |
“Very sad that it always has to hit the best of us” [Shares a story about experiencing a loss in the family] | “Yes, many people experiences this” [Provides general information] | Content-focused responses | |
“Yes, it is, but when we …” [Starts telling about traditions from younger days, but gets interrupted] | “Yes, now a days it is a lot of pressure” [Shuts down further discussion, the topic changes] | Ignoring / blocking responses | |