Dataset for "Service users' experiences of NHS patient medicines helpline services: A qualitative study"

Data collection method:

The study used semi-structured interviews to explore service users' experiences of using National Health Service (NHS) patient medicines helpline services (PMHS). This dataset comprises data from 40 participants. Recruitment was conducted via seven NHS Trusts from different regions within England, which acted as participant identification sites. Data were collected via telephone. Prior to their interview, the following background information was collected from participants: Name of NHS Trust contacted, date of PMHS contact, whether they had previously used a PMHS. Patients were also asked whether they were an inpatient or outpatient for their recent period of care, and the number of prescribed medicines they were prescribed at the time of the PMHS contact. Carers were also asked their relationship to the patient who the PMHS contact was regarding. Separate interview schedules to explore participants experiences of using a PMHS were developed for patients and carers. The two schedules were broadly similar, although, for ethical reasons, the carer version did not contain questions that would have resulted in them providing personal information about the patient individual that they care for. The aim of the interview with carers was thus to explore whether the PMHS met their needs as a carer seeking information. Following their interview, the following background data were collected from each participant: Age, gender, ethnicity, and current occupational status. All audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim into separate Microsoft Word documents. Braun and Clarke’s inductive reflexive thematic analysis (TA) was used to analyse this data. Analysis involved the following stages, as outlined by Braun and Clarke: familiarisation with the data, generating initial codes, developing themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and writing the analysis. All individual interview transcripts were uploaded into NVivo version 12. NVivo was used for generating initial codes and developing and reviewing themes. The only deviation to the TA stages was that Iterative Categorisation (IC) was used in place of the defining themes stage, for increased transparency and rigour. For further details, see the study protocol included within the dataset.

Technical details and requirements:

All individual interview transcripts were uploaded into NVivo version 12.