Design

Because we saw the participants as the experiential experts on the subject (Smith & Osborn, 2008), we used a qualitative, phenomenological hermeneutical approach (Lindseth & Norberg, 2004). A critical realism perspective (Bhaskar & Hartwig, 2016) enabled us to give significance to the participants’ individual experiences (Giorgi & Giorgi, 2008). The Tong, Sainsbury & Craig (2007) consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines was used as the framework for developing the study design and the data was examined by both researchers using Lindseth and Norberg’s (2004) phenomenological, hermeneutical method for analysing interview data. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within and across the participants’ experiences, views and perspectives (Clarke & Braun, 2017).