Table 2 Analysis made in four stages, combining different techniques

Transcribing and first impressions

Interim analysis

Inductive coding

Connecting codes and themes

• Interviews transcribed verbatim, usually before the next interview was conducted [48].

• Transcribing while listening shaped initial overall impressions and informed subsequent interviews [47, 48].

• Naïve reading gave an overview of within-case experiences and perspectives [46, 49].

• Memo-writing and the constant comparison method were used to track and elaborate differences and similarities between cases [45].

• Initial interpretative analysis conducted to understand different aspects: ¹⁾ describing how participants understood themselves, ²⁾ interpreting the meaning of their narratives, ³⁾ interpreting underlying and hidden interests, hidden agendas and using critical interpretation [44].

• Emerging themes were compared to earlier research.

• NVIVO (v. 11) was used to break the text into smaller units [48].

• Inductive, line-by-line coding resulted in 1383 descriptive and interpretive codes [45, 46].

• These were organized hierarchically in 53 main codes and numerous sub-codes [43].

• Codes were interpreted and abstracted into themes [46, 47]

• Mind-mapping in NVIVO connects codes to themes.

• Themes that integrated impressions from earlier phases were followed [43].

• A high-level theme of “protecting the person with dementia from harm” was identified.

• Codes within that theme were categorized into 4 protective practices described by participants, related to potential physical, economic, emotional and relational harm.