Identifying initial themes
In an evaluation study the initial themes should be related to the initial evaluation questions.
If we want to improve the patient's experience of a clinic we might find out; how long it took them to get an appointment, how long the patient waited, how long the consultation lasted. All these things might be put together under the theme of "Timing".
Please read the following extract of an interview:
Interviewer: Can you tell me how you felt about the clinic you attended last Wednesday?
Patient 4: I was very worried about how to get there because the appointment was for 8.30 in the morning and I don't like travelling during the rush hour, also I like to get to places on time so as to give myself a bit of extra time when I arrive to make sure I've got time to visit the toilet when I get there and just to sort myself out without getting too breathless. So I ordered a taxi the week before but it cost £13.50 and that was a bit of a shock, I can tell you. And then when I arrived I was surprised because the sign on the door said that the clinic would be open at that time but the door was locked and it was raining, I think if people make an effort to arrive on time and then the doctors and nurses don't make the same effort it doesn't make you feel very confident, does it?
Interviewer: Mmmm
Patient 4: Anyway, you can imagine how it was, there were about ten people all waiting in the rain, and all ill since they'd come to that clinic, and you only get sent there if you're ill. When the nurse finally opened the door there wasn't any information about why they were late or where the toilets were or anything like that on display and then the nurse who opened the door disappeared into a room and everyone was left wondering what was going on and worrying. Some people sat down and others stood at the desk hoping the nurse would come back and they'd get seen quickly I suppose, I had to sit down because I was feeling breathless and needed the toilet by then but couldn't see any signs. There weren't many chairs though and if everyone had wanted to sit down they couldn't have. I saw a nice old lady from the club I go to on Wednesdays there though, I never knew she had something like that wrong with her, you just can't tell, can you?
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