Table 1 The seven analytical steps described by Sjöström and Dahlgren (2002) as performed in the current study
Familiarization | The first author listened to the interviews and corrected the transcripts. All authors read the transcribed interviews to familiarize themselves with the data. |
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Compilation of responses | The most significant parts of the informants’ responses were identified and extracted from four of the transcripts. Each author extracted significant parts individually, and these were compared within the group to confirm that similar parts were identified. The first author then extracted and compiled significant responses from the remaining transcripts. |
Condensation | The individual answers were shortened to identify their most central parts: the first author condensed the excerpts, and the co-authors read through the condensed material, compared it with the original statements, and discussed their understandings to ensure that the substantial meanings were retained. |
Preliminary grouping | The first author sorted the condensed meanings into preliminary categories, which all authors discussed on several occasions. |
Comparison of categories | The preliminary categories were compared to find associations and establish borders between them. The authors discussed and revised these associations and borders in a process to agree on subcategories and descriptive categories. |
Naming of the categories | After thoroughly discussing their collective understanding of the categories, all authors named the final descriptive and subcategories to highlight their inherent meanings. |
Contrastive comparison | The unique character of each descriptive category and the resemblances between them were described. |