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Table 1 Clinical equity semi-structured interview guide

From: Vulnerability identified in clinical practice: a qualitative analysis

Domains Initial questions Follow-up questions

Experience in situation of resource allocation

In certain situations, doctors can be faced with the question of whether or not to use an intervention because resources are limited. Do you feel that this has happened to you?

Do you have an example of a case where pressure on resources has faced you with a difficult choice in clinical practice?

Which decisions were made in this situation? What was your role in this decision?

What values seemed important to you when this decision was made?

To what extent were you satisfied with the decision that was made? Why?

On the basis of which patient characteristics would you say that it is reasonable/unreasonable to continue an expensive treatment? Why?

On the basis of which treatment characteristics would you say that it is reasonable/unreasonable to continue an expensive treatment? Why?

Should other aspects have been considered? Which ones?

Nature of concern for equity in clinical decisions

When resources are limited, doctors are forced to think in terms of fairness.

What does ‘to treat a patient fairly/equitably’ mean to you? What about ‘unfairly/inequitably’?

Can you give an example of a situation where it was difficult to treat a patient in your practice fairly?

In your first example, did the decision seem fair to you? In what way?

Did you think in terms of fairness in this first example?

Can you give an example of unfair treatment? Do you have a specific case experienced?

Training

How did your idea of fairness develop?

To what degree do you feel prepared by your training to face questions of fairness?

Which parts of your training seem to you to have been useful in helping you face these cases?

In your clinical practice, what leads you to question yourself about fairness?

Do you think questions of fairness are more present now than before in your practice? What does this mean for your view?

And insurance in all this?

  1. Italic: General introduction of the original interview