Table II.

Examples of the analysis procedure.

Key phrases	Code	Subcategory	Category	Overriding theme
You always have to plan what you do now, I never had to do that before	Reduced spontaneity	Struggling through everyday life	Change from their earlier lives	It's not just a knee, but a whole life
The pain takes away the joy of doing things	Pain affects the mood	Emotional distress
I have to take the elevator instead of stairs	Physically reducing pain	Physical coping strategies	Coping with knee problems
It doesn't get better just because I go around moaning	Positive thinking	Cognitive coping strategies
I don't take many pills, I only do it when nothing else works anymore	Reluctance to taking painkillers	Alleviating pain
For now I feel that it's getting worse and worse and I want to put an end to that	Surgery as the only way out		Ultimate decision to undergo surgery