Table 2.
Themes and subthemes
| Themes | Sub themes | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Perception of hospice | Initial perceptions of hospice | Hospice as a place where people die |
| Subsequent perception of hospice | Loss of anxiety about ‘hospice’ once attending regularly | |
| Supportive relationships | Relationships with other patients, | Comparing self with other patients |
| Competition with other patients | ||
| Sadness at deterioration/death of others/own mortality | ||
| Receive a ‘boost’ | ||
| ‘Boring’ if on own | ||
| Being with others in similar position | ||
| Sharing experiences/information | ||
| Relationships with staff | Support/guidance of staff | |
| Being ‘pushed’/encouraged by staff | ||
| Permission ‘not to have to do’/protected | ||
| Taking part in classes | Physical effect | Ability to do things, maintaining current level, not returning to previous disability |
| Back to previous self/ doing things used to do before illness | ||
| Wanting to improve strength/fitness | ||
| Independence | ||
| Exercises at home | ||
| Tiredness, aches | ||
| Working to own level/exercises adapted /progressed gradually/ No. in group and time on equipment | ||
| Physical/ psychosocial effect | Therapeutic | |
| Psychosocial and emotional effect | ‘Day out’ | |
| Improved mood/given a boost | ||
| Humour | ||
| Increased confidence/Self esteem/self worth | ||
| Opportunity to reflect | ||
| Coping | ||
| Expectations | Response to suggestion of class participation | |
| Expectations/not knowing what to expect in classes |