Decision making in the oesophageal cancer trajectory a source of tension and edginess to patients and relatives: a qualitative study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Overview of participant observations.

Table I. Example of the systematic process in the structural analysis.

Units of meaning (what is said/observed)	Units of significance (what the text speaks about)	Theme
”I read in my electronic journal. You need to see the big picture and be in control of the situation. Seeing the big picture is very important to me”. (Department of Surgery, Patient 6 & Relative 7)	Establishing an overview by reading in the electronic journal	Patients’ and relatives’ need for seeing the big picture in the treatment trajectory
The wife asks about her husbands’ chances for survival. (Department of Surgery, Patient 10 & Relative 13)	Thinking and asking about the worst-case scenario
The patient tells the oncologist that he appreciates the explanation about the time after surgery before starting the chemotherapy. He says he now has created an overview of the entire treatment plan. (Department of Oncology Patient 1 & relative1)	An overview of the entire treatment plan

Table II. Characteristics of the patients.

Total of 16 patients	Number
Age, years
45–60	2
60–70	8
70–80	6
Gender
Male	14
Female	2
Living with a partner	13
Employed	4
Retired	12
Did not get planned surgery	3
Received the intended curative treatment	9
Did not complete the postoperative chemotherapy	4

Table III. Characteristics of the relatives.

Total of 19 relatives	Number
Age, years
20-49	4
50-59	3
60-69	8
70-79	4
Gender
Male	2
Female	17
Relation
Spouses	15
Daughter, granddaughter, brother-in-law, sister	4
Employed	11
Retired	8

Data availability statement

To protect individuals’ privacy, data cannot be shared publicly.