Equality and differences: group interaction in mixed focus groups of users and professionals discussing power

Figures & data

Table 1. Five vignettes from the individual interviews.

Subject	Content
1 Place	Moderator: Is it like having a guest? User: No, it’s not like that. I don’t have to feel stressed doing housework before Caroline (the professional) comes. You want to make a good impression when you are having guests. It’s not like that when the professionals come. You don’t have to make up an excuse and delay the visit – just because you couldn’t handle the housework. She is not a friend. It’s something else.
2 Knowledge	User: He doesn’t give me the answer right away. He says I have to find the answer myself. He’s asking me questions. (…) It’s quite frustrating. Can you not just give me the answer? At the same time I am thankful he treats me that way. He shows me respect. He has faith in me. It’s good to know that I can do it myself.
3 Power	Professional: We don’t use power here.
4. “She represents me”	User: I don’t feel I can take care of my own interests when I am going to meetings at NAV (The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). I feel so small. That is why I want Mona to come with me. She says, “Tor needs this and Tor needs that”. It’s the only thing that works. It’s the only way I can make NAV listen. I think that is a positive way of using power. Moderator: Do you think they listen to her more because she is a professional? User: Absolutely! (…) I guess they would listen to me, too – but not the way they listen to Mona. (…) Moderator: Do you influence what she’s going to say at the meetings? User: Yes, we discuss it before the meetings. She speaks my case.
5 Concept (what to call the person who is assisted by the mental health care service)	Professionals: User, person, client, disabled Users: Patient, user, client

Table 2. Development of the themes and sub themes presenting the results.

Steven’s twelve question guide to analyze group interactions (1996, p. 172) (presented in random order)	Three main themes presented in the article	Sub-themes presented in the article
• How closely did the group adhere to the issues presented for discussion? • Why, how and when were related issues brought up? • What statements seemed to evoke conflict? • Was a particular view dominant? • Were alliances formed among group members? • Was a particular member or viewpoint silenced? • How did the group resolve disagreements? • Whose interests were being represented in the group? • How were emotions handled? • What were the contradictions in the discussion? • What common experiences were expressed? • What topics produced consensus?	How the participants related to the vignettes How the focus group participants related to each other Contradictions and disagreements	* how persons behind the vignettes might have thought or felt * spoke from different positions * be the knowledgeable * talked over each other, interrupted each other, or asked questions * talking about their own experiences * positions from outside the focus group setting influenced interaction * support and comfort across backgrounds * Influenced by the moderator * disagreement led to development of discussions * changed their minds

Stevens, P. E. (1996). Focus groups: Collecting aggregate-level data to understand community health phenomena. Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.), 13(3), 170–176.

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