Qualitative interview questions
Seeing where you and your loved one are now, and looking back on your hospital stay, the conversations you had with nurses, doctors, families and friends, in particular with regard to the tracheostomy, we would like you to think about what went well and what could have been improved:
1. LOOKING BACK:
How does (the patient’s) current condition compare to what you initially expected it would be at this point?
(Prompts: where did you think you might be now? what surprised you? what
could MD/RN/others have told/prepared warned you about? If you could speak to another family who is making the same decision about whether or not to get a tracheostomy for their loved one, what would you tell them? If I were to teach medical students about helping caregivers make decisions in the ICU, what would you want me to tell them?)
2. LOOKING FORWARD:
Seeing how far you've come in the past X(fill in) months: what expectations, if any, do you have for the future? What are your biggest hopes? Your biggest fears?
3. LOOKING AT YOU:
How are you coping with this new situation?
(Prompts: do you feel depressed or anxious? regret or guilt? what could MD/RN/others have told/prepared warned you about?)
4. LOOKING AT (NAME OF PATIENT):
Are the decisions that were made/the care that has been/is being provided the ones that he/she would have chosen if able?
(if no...
if yes...)
