Data collection
Data collection was conducted during 2007.
In order to capture the participant’s subjective
experiences, data were collected by means of
semi-structured interviews, giving participants an
opportunity to share their personal experiences
with the researcher. The patients were asked to
describe the experiential meaning of developing,
living with and being treated for gallstone disease,
which was based primarily on two general
questions:
Can you tell me about the time before surgery?
Can you tell me about the time after surgery?
These questions were followed up with further
probes to encourage participants to elaborate.
The interviews were recorded on tape and
transcribed verbatim.