Table 3.

Constructs

Construct	Explanation	Example
First-order constructs	Carers accounts of their experiences	‘it’s a lot of negotiation… sometimes…it’s a case of having a familiar face’ I think, you know, when he was initially diagnosed, it would have been great to have somebody from that point onwards that you could have dealt with like one single person or one single number that you could call and say, “This is happening now. What typically happens here? You know, what, what is a good decision to make here?” … So yeah it just would have been good to, to, I suppose just to have some sort of advocacy [Right] for the families just so that you can make informed decisions.
Second-order constructs	Author’s views and interpretations expressed as themes in the primary papers	Similarly, healthcare professionals unfamiliar with the family and the resident’s individual wishes were also noted to cause unnecessary anxiety, again resulting in reluctance of further contact. The experience of an uncoordinated discharge process was for family and friends compounded by their own exhaustion after their hospital vigil. The tiredness was further complicated by delays in restarting community services that were accessed previously This health professional was often their general practioner (GP). Having this consistent, ongoing support helped the surrogate decision- maker become aware of issues and find their way through the complex maze of service provision. It meant that surrogate decision- makers did not have to keep repeating their story and building trust with new professionals.
Third-order constructs	The views and interpretations of the synthesis team	Continuity of care Having a trusted health or social care professional who understood both the patient and the healthcare system was hugely valued by carers.