| 34) Olsson et al. (2011) * same sample― excluded for totals | Phenomenological | 15 (0♂) patients with MS Sub type SP 15 Mean age: not given. Median 54 years Age range: 35 - 70 years Mean time with illness: not given. Median 24 years. Range 7 - 34 years Mean time until diagnosis: not given | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) female, b) diagnosis of secondary progressive MS Setting: Patients home Study geographical location: Sweden | Data collection tool: Telephone interview schedule Study Aim: “elucidate meanings of being received and met by others as experienced by women with MS” (page 2) Average interview time: not given Interview time range: 40 - 60 mins Analysis: Phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation |
| 35) Pakeman (2008) | Mixed methods | 145 (25*♂) patients with MS Sub-type Not given. Mean age: 49 years Age range: 21 - 80 years Mean time with illness: not given Mean time until diagnosis: not given *numbers estimated | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) Member of MS society, b) diagnosis of MS Setting: home Study geographical location: Australia | Data collection tool: Postal survey. If patients indicated they could make sense of the MS one open ended question about how individual make sense of their MS. Study Aim: “this report presents qualitative and quantitative data on sense making collected from a larger study designed to examine coping processes in adaptation to MS and caregiving” (page 96) Average interview time: not applicable Interview time range: not applicable Analysis: quantitative content analysis |
| 36) Ploughman et al. (2012) | Semi structured interviews | 18 (4♂) patients with MS Sub-types RR 3 PP 2 SP 10 B 1 Unknown 2 Mean age: 66.5 years Age range: 56 - 80 years Mean time with illness: 33.5 years. Range 20 - 50 years Mean time until diagnosis: not given | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: a) diagnosis of MS, b) aged over 55 years, c) had MS for at least 20 years, c) patients who lived over 1.5 hours from researcher group Setting: home (not identified implied) Study geographical location: Canada | Data collection tool: semi-structured interview Focused on experience, interactions, relationships, typical day and strategies to deal with Ms Study Aim: “describe the factors influencing health aging from the perspective of the older person with MS” (page, 27) Average interview time: not known Interview time range: 60 - 80 minutes Analysis: thematic and INVIVO computer software |
| 37) Prunty et al. (2008) | Focus groups | 20 (0♂) patients with MS Sub types RR 12 PP 2 SP 2 Unknown 4 Mean age: 32 years Age range: 20 - 40 years Mean time with illness: 6.5 years. Mean time until diagnosis: not given. | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: (a) member of the MS society Setting: not identified. MS community locaitonlikely. Study geographical location: Australia | Data collection tool: focus groups Study Aim: “document the main themes and concerns for women with MS considering motherhood” (page 701) Average interview time: 60 mins Interview time range: not given Analysis: thematic analysis |
| 38) Reynolds and Prior (2003) | Phenomenological | 27 (0♂) patients with MS Sub-types not given Mean age: not given. Median 48. Age range: 32 - 75 years Mean time with illness: not given. Median 14 years. Range 2 - 37 years Mean time until diagnosis: not given. | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: (a) lived with a diagnosis of MS for more than 5 years Setting: Patients, home, at clinic and by telephone Study geographical location: United Kingdom | Data collection tool: semi-structured interview guide Study Aim: “we explore women’s strategies for achieving an acceptable quality of life” (page 1228) Average interview time: not given Interview time range: not given. Analysis: thematic analysis |
| 39) Robinson (1990) | Narrative | 50 (?♂) patients with MS Mean age: not given Age range: not given Mean time with illness: not given Mean time until diagnosis: not given. | Sampling: purposive Eligibility: (a) diagnosis with Ms Setting: home Study geographical location: United Kingdom | Data collection tool: Written life stories from people with Ms Study Aim: “people were enjoined to write their life stories including anything in their lives―events, experiences or feelings which was important to them.” (page 1177) Average interview time: not given Interview time range: not given Analysis: narrative analysis |