Table 4 Interpretative phenomenological analysis framework

• Initial reading

Reading of first transcript line-by-line, with preliminary comments

• Early analysis

Comments grouped into themes

• Higher level abstraction

Relationships developed between themes leading to an organised master list and thematic account of the case

• Subsequent transcripts

New themes tested against the previous transcripts as non-recurring themes were tested against following transcripts. Relationships across cases noted to identify a set of superordinate themes for the group