Table 3.

Summary of results.

Main analytical theme	Summary of key issues/learning
Definitions and roles	• Difficulties in conceptualising involvement and palliative care due to use of different terminology • Take time to clarify roles, purpose and expectations • Take time to create a safe space and to work together collaboratively, acknowledging boundary issues
Values and principles	• Similarity of values in involvement and palliative care • Acknowledge difficulties; however, do not make assumptions • Acknowledge and work with power issues
Organisations and culture	• Consider involvement as a core activity, integrate throughout organisations • Address practical matters to make systems more involvement-friendly • Address issues concerning attitudes to involvement and emotional aspects • Involvement found to be less daunting than originally thought
Training and support	• Provide training opportunities for all, considering different motivations • Address support issues • Involve different people using different methods
Networking and groups	• Develop infrastructure to enable networking and mutual support, build collaborations and develop new groups • Take time to develop relationships • Consider issues concerning sustainability of groups
Perspectives and diversity	• View differing perspectives as all valuable • Acknowledge and address issues concerning diversity • Consider diversity rather than representativeness
Relationships and communication	Take time to develop relationships • Need for professionals to interact with patients/carers • Ensure communication is accessible and regular, provide feedback • Acknowledge value and benefits of involvement
Emotions and impact	• Acknowledge and address issues concerning emotional impact • Ensure good practice followed in involvement • Acknowledge positive benefits and impacts • Ensure patients/carers offered opportunities to be involved