Table 1.

Interview topic guide—patients

Introduction
Open with an introduction to self and the study, giving background and aims of the study—explain a university study, not the NHS Tell the participant how long you expect the interview to take (between 30 min to an hour) and explain that the interview will be tape recorded Explain about confidentiality, and the use of the data Explain don't need to talk about anything uncomfortable with and no right/wrong answers Any questions?
Patient's experience
Ask about patients experience of being diagnosed—this is an open‐ended question to enable the patient to talk freely about their experiences
Prompts
Symptoms—Symptom recognition and how long before went to a HCP
Disclosing symptoms to anyone
Diagnosis—Who/how/what/when told
Any difficulties/anxieties
Involved in any care/treatment decisions?
Alone or with a partner?
Referred for any support? (counselling needs, QoL, psych treatment)
IF HPV mentioned:
What was talked about
How did you feel
IF HPV NOT mentioned:
Did the health professional mention HPV at all?
If so, how did you feel
Psychosocial—Initial feelings
Disclosure to partner/others
Reactions of partner/others
Adjustments/coping/impact on daily life (physical, psychological, social)
Anything to help you cope better?
Changes to relationship?
Effect on others
Feelings about the future
Information needs—any research prior to diagnosis
Amount of information received
Lacking any information?
Look elsewhere for information? If so, where, what helpful/unhelpful
Were you given any written information? Need for it?
Closing the interview
Any other comments, issues or suggestions that haven't been raised? Thank interviewee Reassure about confidentiality Give debrief, repeating the aims of the study and leaving details of available support Ask if happy to be re‐contacted later in the study