Table 6.

Subthemes and descriptive examples of theme 5—travel health benefits

Subtheme	Representative quotations
Freedom from medical commitments	“I think we need that because when you are constantly, constantly going into hospitals, appointments, appointments, appointments…It’s just lovely to get away from the country even, just to get away and get a break from it all.” (P9)
Opportunity to strengthen existing friendships	“We did a bus trip around Sicily, there were about 35 or 40 of us. So we flew out, on a bus, traveling around…absolute fantastic. Absolutely fabulous.” (P3)
Mental health benefits	“Well, I don’t know about physical health, but certainly mental….Mental health, absolutely yeah, beneficial.” (P2)
Capacity to broaden perspectives	“And it helped to give me a different perspective on the world. You were…if you didn’t develop the ability to see things from someone else’s point of view, there was something seriously wrong with you.” (P3)
Historical sightseeing	“You know, lovely time, the…just seeing all the old artifacts, the temples, and ruins from roman times. It was stunning.” (P3)
Exposure to other languages and cultures	“…I like hearing different languages, I like the sounds, I like the rhythms of different places. And erm, I particularly like to hear the natives speak their own language and then after a while, began to identify the… what’s happening, by the sounds.” (P3)
Opportunity to increase physical activity	“Oh I will, I walk more when I be abroad. Yeah I would….walk every morning before breakfast, and I will go for cycle every afternoon.” (P7)
Benefits of sun for arthritis	“Oh it was beautiful, and the heat helps the arthritic pain. They just go away. Arthritic pain dissolves in the heat….The heat helps, greatly, greatly.” (P1)