Method
Six focus group interviews were held in Wales and England between November 1998 and November 1999. Focus group methodology was used to identify group norms or a range of views,15 and to capitalize on the interaction within the group to elicit rich experiential data.16
Study sample
A range of subjects was recruited by purposeful sampling. Five of the six groups comprised a range of consumers, consumer advocates and consumer representatives. These included people invited to take part in the study whilst attending for their health-care at general practices in Wales, volunteers linked with other general practices, and further individuals involved in ‘lobbying’ consumer representation at wider levels and contributing consumer views to research projects. In addition, one group comprised non-medical individuals with experience in playing roles of consumers (‘patient simulators’) in medical training.