| 6) Courts et al. (2004) | Focus group design | 13 (3♂) patients with MS Sub-types not given Mean age: 46.9 years 47.3 years for women. 45.7 years for men. Age range: 1.5 - 15 years for women. 28 - 59 years for men. Mean time with illness: 5.8 years 5.6 years for women, 6.9 years for men. Mean time until diagnosis: not given | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) had a diagnosis of MS, b) attended the MS society community location. Setting: MS society community location Study geographical location: United states of America | Data collection tool: Focus groups. A period of uninterrupted time was given to each participation about their experiences of having MS. This was combined with comments from others which followed. Study Aim: “investigate the concerns and problems or lived experience of a group of men and a group of women with MS” (page 43) Average interview time: not given. Interview time range: 1.5 - 2 hours Analysis: not clear |
| 7) Dennison et al. (2010) | Telephone interview | 30 (8♂) patients with MS Sub-types 18 RR 4 PP 8 SP Mean age: not given. Age range: not given. “36.7% in 40’s, 33.3% in 50’s” Mean time with illness: 3.8 years. Mean time until diagnosis: not given | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) diagnosis of MS for >8 years, b) could be recruited from MS society website and NHS MS services. Setting: Telephone interviews Study geographical location: United Kingdom | Data collection tool: Telephone interview considering a series of open ended questions. Considered: (a) thoughts and feelings when first diagnosed and at present Study Aim: “in depth investigation into the process of adjusting to early stage MS.” (page 480) Average interview time: 45 minutes Interview time range: not given. Analysis: inductive thematic analysis |
| 8) Dilorenzo et al. (2008) | Telephone interview | 13 (4♂) patients with MS Sub-types Not given Mean age: 68.3 years Age range: 62 - 75 years Mean time with illness: 22.5 years. 8 - 42 years Mean time until diagnosis: | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) 60 years and older, b) English speaking, c) diagnosed for >5 years Setting: Telephone interviews Study geographical location: United states of America | Data collection tool: Open questions to the consider the experience and impact of living with MS and the factors which relate to adaptation. Study Aim: “identify psychosocial and/or physical characteristics reported to be related to adaptation in older individuals with MS Average interview time: not given. Interview time range: 60 - 90 minutes Analysis: software with thematic approach |
| 9) Dyck and Jongbloed (2000) | Semi-structured interviews | 54 (0♂) patients with MS Sub-types Not given Mean age: not given Age range: 25 - 49 years Mean time with illness: not given Mean time until diagnosis: not given. | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) individuals with MS, b) attendance of the MS society locally. Setting: Patients home Study geographical location: Canada | Data collection tool: semi-structured interviews. Considered; a) work experiences, b) illness management strategies, c) income issues, d) housing and personal relationships. Study Aim: “take account of both the individual and societal dimensions of employment, by investigating the everyday work experiences of women diagnosed with MS and the contextual framing of such experience” (page 339) Average interview time: not given. Interview time range: 1 - 2 hours Analysis: Constant comparison methods |
| 10) Edmonds et al. (2007) | Semi-structured interviews | 32 (13♂) patients with MS Sub-types: SP 21 PP 6 RR 3 Other 2 Mean age: not given. Median: 55 years Age range: 18 - 79 years Mean time with illness: not given. Median 14.5 years Mean time until diagnosis: not given. | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: (a) individuals with Ms Setting: Patients home and rehabilitation unit where they attended for treatment Study geographical location: United Kingdom | Data collection tool: Open ended question considering the most important things about living with MS. Study Aim: “As little is known about the needs and experiences of people severely affected by progressive or RRMS, we used a qualitative approach to investigate these issues” (page 102) Average interview time: not given. Interview time range: 30 - 60 minutes Analysis: |