Table 1.

Participant demographic and occupational characteristics

Pseudonym	Sex	Age category (years)	Healthcare setting	Type of work contracta	Work role	Available sick pay	Dominant hand	Side of CTR	Post-operative work absence (days)		Interview timing (days after surgery)
									Expected	Actual
Jill	F	51–60	NHS 2	Employed	Sales assistant	Unsure	Right	Right	14	21	119
Debbie	F	51–60	NHS 1	Employed	Nurse	> 6 months	Right	Right	21	21	152
Alan	M	51–60	NHS 1	Self-employed	Maintenance	< 1 week	Right	Right	7	7	151
Sarah	F	61–70	NHS 1	Self-employed	Stable owner	> 6 months	Right	Right	NR	0	123
Peter	M	51–60	NHS 2	Employed	Mechanic	< 1 week	Right	Left	21	16	130
Emma	F	51–60	NHS 2	Employed	Optician	1–6 months	Both	Left	42	42	115
George	M	61–70	NHS 2	Self-employed	Gardener	< 1 week	Left	Right	21	14	155
Helen	F	51–60	NHS 1	Employed	Nurse	> 6 months	Right	Right	21	8	149
Fiona	F	21–30	NHS 1	Employed	Animal technician	1–6 months	Right	Right	21	21	160
Donna	F	31–40	NHS 2	Employed	Police officer	1–6 months	Right	Left	14	42	118
Charlotte	F	41–50	NHS 2	Employed	Postal worker	1–6 months	Right	Right	21	98	119
Vicky	F	41–50	Private	Employed	Secretary	1–6 months	Right	Right	7	4	114
Amanda	F	41–50	Private	Employed	Administrator	> 6 months	Right	Right	14	6	155
Alison	F	41–50	NHS 2	Zero hours contract	Carer	< 1 week	Right	Right	21	28	94

^aAll participants listed as employed reported having a permanent work contract

CTR carpal tunnel release, NR not reported, F female, M male, NHS 1 NHS primary care, NHS 2 NHS secondary care, private private healthcare setting