Introduction

Thank you very much for agreeing to take part in this interview.

Our study

As you know we are engaged in a study to develop and test an intervention to improve health care in care homes with nursing.

What will happen today?

Today we are interested in understanding the role you play or would like to play in the care of your relative’s health.

We will ask you questions about:

• the role you play and the role you would like to play
• what knowledge and skills you have and would like to have to play a role in the care of your relative’s health
• what ways of communicating with care home staff and primary care that you find helpful and not helpful.

We would like to record your answers so that we have an accurate account.

Reminder about our promise to you

As you may remember from the information sheet about the study:

• You do not have to answer any questions you do not wish to.
• You can withdraw from the study at any time.
• We will not use your name in any of our findings.
• We will provide you with an honorarium.

Ground rules

There are no wrong answers. Please respect each other’s opinions. Would you like to establish any ground rules yourselves?

Any questions?

Introducing ourselves

Let’s introduce ourselves by telling us your name and about your involvement in the care of your relative (relative’s health) living in a care home with nursing.

Role in the care of your relative’s health

• What role do you play in the care of your relative’s health?
• What role would you like to play in the care of your relative’s health?

Knowledge and skills for your role in the care of your relative’s health

• What skills and knowledge do you need in order to be involved in the care of your relative’s health?
• Do you know what health conditions your relative has?
• How do you know when your relative is becoming ill? What do you notice?
• Do you have information about your relative that might be helpful to care home staff?

Communication with care home staff about your relative’s health

• Please describe a time when you have had useful communication about your relative’s health with nursing home staff?
  • What was useful about it?
  • What role did staff play?
  • What role did you play?
• Please describe a time when communication was not so good – what might have made it better?

Communication with primary care staff and general practitioners

• Please describe a time when you have had useful communication about your relative’s health with primary care staff – GPs?
  • What was useful about it?
  • What role did staff play?
  • What role did you play?
• Please describe a time when communication was not so good – what might have made it better?

One last comment

Do you have any further comments or questions? (each person asked)

Many thanks

Thank you very much for your time.

Next steps

We will transcribe what was said today and see where there are some clear themes about families’ involvement in care for their relative’s health in nursing homes.

Please provide information about payment of honorarium, time scales and web page link and Twitter account so people can follow the study’s progress.