Exploring the information needs of patients with unexplained chest pain

Figures & data

Table 1 The interview guide

	Interview sequence with topics or questions asked
Opening	Interviewer introduction Information regarding the purpose of the interview
Main question	Can you tell me something about the information you received at the cardiac outpatient clinic?
Closing	Are there other important issues related to the information that we have not discussed, and that we should take into consideration when giving information to patients? Summary of main topics with the most important remarks

Table 2 Examples from the qualitative content analysis process showing abstraction from condensed meaning units, categories, subthemes, and theme

Condensed meaning unit	Category	Subtheme	Theme
They don’t think of each person as having individual questions when giving information The examination in the clinic which found unexplained chest pain, gave me many questions, but he (cardiologist) would not listen to my history	Not being seen as a person	Experiencing lack of focus on individual problems
Didn’t have time to ask questions They said you could ask, but there was no room for it	Lack of time for asking questions
People don’t talk about it (unexplained chest pain) Strange that they don’t get (together) those who have the problems to talk with others	Alone with the problems		Experiencing unmet information needs
No pattern for when getting pain, that is why I do not know what to ask about	Uncertain about how to formulate questions	Experiencing unanswered questions
Not getting an answer why I feel this (chest pain) When cardiologist gives information, I do not ask Expect the doctors inform, based on their qualifications They found nothing wrong, but there is something, I feel pain Need an explanation, why I have chest pain	Still uncertain of the cause of pain
When problems with the heart, it makes me frightened of exercise The pain is so bad, I have to hold on to continue (exercising) The pain comes and goes (during exercise)	Uncertain about how to exercise in a safe way
The pain can come when I am eating I don’t know why the pain comes when I eat. It’s a mystery Wondering about if special food is causing pain I am careful with what I am eating, because I am unsure about the connection to chest pain	Uncertain if food is causing pain

Table 3 Stages of the qualitative content analysis

1	The interviews were taped and transcribed word for word.
2	The transcribed interviews were carefully read through as a whole several times to gain a contextual understanding of the patients’ information needs. Important nuances were discovered by searching for common distinctive features, as well as variations.
3	Patterns in the data were identified by dividing into meaning units (eg, constellation of statements that relate to the same central meaning).
4	The meaning units were condensed, with the core preserved.
5	Categories were created as groups of expressed manifest content with shared commonality, and subcategories (eg, sentences to be sorted and abstracted into a category).
6	Subthemes and a main theme; the meaningful essences that run through the data were constructed and based on manifest and latent content.
7	Selection of quotes. There was agreement regarding which quotes were to be selected to illustrate each category.
8	Validation of findings. The counsellors agreed with and acknowledged the relevance of the findings after each interview. They also highlighted other areas of importance that were included.