Is the qualitative research interview an acceptable medium for research with palliative care patients and carers?

BMC Medical Ethics

Table 1 Type and involvement of patients and carers

Types of participants	Patients interviewed	Age patient	Gender patient	Settings	Type of carer interview	Number and relation of carer to patient	Gender carer
Patients with cancer	30	Range: 52–67	8 women	Outpatient clinic	5J	5 spouses	2 men
		Median: 68	22 men		2S	1 daughter	5 women
						1 son
Patients with COPD	14	Range: 52–75	9 women	Outpatient clinic	2S	5 spouses	6 women
		Median: 69	5 men		4J	1 daughter
Patients with cardiac failure	10	Range: 61–80	3 women	Outpatient clinic	3S	3 spouses	3 women
		Median: 69	7 men
MND patients	10	Range: 24–77	1 woman	Outpatient clinic	9S	8 spouses	9 women
		Median: 42	9 men			1 mother
Patients with severe COPD	4	Range: 52–78	2 women	Community	1J	2 spouses	1 man
		Median: 70	2 men
Patients needing palliative care	8	Range: 64–79	5 women	Community	1S	1 spouse	2 women
		Median: 69	3 men		1J	1 daughter

ISSN: 1472-6939