Table I.

Description of the three participants.

•	Participant 1: 27-year-old female admitted to the intensive care unit due to surgical complications. The admission lasted 3 weeks. The woman subsequently stayed for a prolonged period of time at a surgical bed ward and has needed help from the family after discharge from the hospital. She was interviewed 1 year after admission to the intensive care unit and at this time she had resumed her job.
•	Participant 2: 78-year-old woman admitted to the intensive care unit due to a complicated postoperative course. Moreover, the woman had a known medical problem, which had made the treatment difficult. She was admitted for 3 months and subsequently she participated in prolonged rehabilitation; the total length of hospital admission was approximately 6 months. She was interviewed 3 months after discharge from the intensive care unit where she has just come home. She still needs help in the home; the help is provided by family and the professional system. During the stay at the intensive care unit the woman has been transferred to a smaller hospital with a smaller intensive care unit and her recollections are primarily from the unit. The woman is a pensioner.
•	Participant 3: 56-year-old male admitted to the intensive care unit due to a medical problem. The stay lasted 3 weeks and subsequently he has been admitted to a medical ward. He is interviewed approximately 3 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. At this time he is temporarily staying at a nursing home. He has been an early retirement pensioner for 15 years.