Table 2.

Thematic Analysis

How HF patient and informal caregiver dyads mutually engage in self-care
Theme	Subthemes with variants	Dyad agrees/disagrees on self-care
1) According to established patterns across the lifecourse of the relationship	One (patient or caregiver) is more dominant (actor), one more passive (partner)	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree
	Both members equal participants	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree
	Patient reports using past patterns /Caregiver corrects and reports new patterns	Found only in dyads who disagree
2) According to whether it’s day to day care (self- care maintenance) or symptom management (self-care management)	Symptom crisis over-rides established pattern (dyad escalates)   V.1 Caregiver steps up (dyad shifts from maintenance style)   V.2 Dyad mobilizes outside help in crisis	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree V.2 Found only in dyads who agree
	Established pattern over-rides crisis   V.1 Patient remains in charge (dyad doesn’t shift from maintenance style)   V.2 Dyad continues to collaborate but doesn’t escalate (dyad doesn’t shift from maintenance style)	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree V.2 Found only in dyads who agree
	Context over-rides crisis	Found in dyad with paid caregiver
3) By mobilizing the help of a third party/consultant	Informal consultant – family member/friend	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree
	Formal consultant- office nurse or physician	Found in both dyads who agree or disagree

Note. HF- heart failure, V. – variant