Individual reviewers independently interpreted the extracted data, assigned them possible themes, and then revisited those themes following familiarisation with the data and increasing numbers of studies.
Finally, the themes were compared with the data extracts and with the entire dataset and minor adjustments were made.
The view that using CMC would enhance access to participation, and thereby equity of the process, was implicit in the aims of the Programme and this emerged as a strong theme in the data, but with greater complexity.
The unique user-focus of this study resulted in the use of an inductive approach to the identification of themes where the themes are strongly linked with the data themselves.
Themes were repeatedly compared with the data following a method of 'constant comparison' [ 24] (p.71).
The inductive approach (i.e. without trying to fit into a predefined coding frame) and the deductive approach (i.e. driven by our analytic interest) were used iteratively, and we worked through the following stages to identify themes: To familiarize ourselves with the data, we listened through the recordings several times.
A review of the identified themes were done, in comparison with the data sections from which these themes emerged to further ensure validity and accuracy.
To analyse the data, a thematic analysis approach was used in order to systematically organize the data and then to identify repeated patterns (themes) across the data with regard to the research question [ 36].
29 Following the participant interviews, the pictorial and table version of the care pathway were refined and presented back to each key informant along with key themes of the data analysis.
These co-authors reviewed the merged quotes to determine the extent to which they portrayed the different HIV status disclosure processes, and aligned with identified themes in the data, using Google Docs.
