Table 1 Qualitative study design

1. Interviewer/facilitator

All interviews will be conducted by the same member of the study team.

2. Credentials

The interviewer will be a masters-level trained research assistant.

3. Occupation

The interviewer will be employed full-time as a project officer.

4. Gender

The interviewer will be male.

6. Relationship established

Potential interviewees will be contacted with a standardised recruitment email to introduce the study and the interviewer and to request their participation.

7. Participant knowledge of the interviewer

The recruitment email will explain the study goals and why the interviewer is interested in conducting this research. This information will be reviewed at the start of each interview.

8. Interviewer characteristics

The recruitment email will provide information about the research team, including the interviewer. This information will be reviewed at the start of each interview.

9. Methodological orientation and theory

The qualitative portion of the study will use a qualitative description approach.

10. Sampling

Potential interviewees will be selected based on their practicing status in the target hospital.

11. Method of approach

Potential interviewees will be approached with a standardised recruitment email.

12. Sample size

We anticipate conducting 5 to 10 interviews.

13. Non-participation

We will document any reasons provided by those who decline to participate as well as any individuals who do not respond to our recruitment email.

14. Setting of data collection

Data will be collected via interviews conducted in person.

15. Presence of non-participants

We anticipate that the interviewer and interviewee will be the only individuals present.

16. Description of sample

The sample will include Orthopaedic and General surgeons and their registrars consulting out of the target hospital.

17. Interview guide

The interview guide will be developed by the study team. It will be pilot-tested and refined before data collection begins.

18. Repeat interviews

We do not anticipate conducting repeat interviews.

19. Audio/visual recording

Once permission is granted, interviews will be audio recorded.

20. Field notes

The interviewer will draft summary notes immediately after concluding each interview.

21. Duration

We anticipate that interviews will last no more than 30 min.

24. Number of data coders

We plan to have two coders pilot a sub-sample of transcripts. Once discrepancies are resolved and the codebook is finalised, the full set of transcripts will be coded by one individual.

25. Description of the coding tree

We plan to develop a coding tree (i.e., codebook) based on a review of the literature, a priori knowledge within the study team, and summary notes from interviews.

26. Derivation of themes

Themes will be derived once data have been coded. Preliminary themes may be identified based on discussions with the interviewer and review of field notes.

27. Software

We plan to use NVivo qualitative research software.

28. Participant checking

A bulleted list of key findings will be shared with participants once data have been coded and analysed.

29. Quotations presented

Quotations from interviews will be used to present findings, and they will be accompanied by an interviewee identification number.

30. Data and findings consistent

Our planned use of quotations will allow for assessment of consistency between our data and findings. We will also create supplemental tables with additional quotations to share as much information as possible when presenting our findings.

31. Clarity of major themes

We plan to use sub-headings listing our major themes to promote clarity when writing up our findings.

32. Clarify of minor themes

We plan to provide quotations from interviewees who raised minor themes or shared information contrary to findings of our major themes.