Table 2.

Participants’ inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Sub-unit of analysis	Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Patients	•Diagnosed with either stage III or IV BC •At least, within one year of diagnosis •Receiving care or refereed to the palliative care clinic of KATH for care •Could speak in either “Twi” (local language) or English (languages the lead author understands and could speak fluently)	•Diagnosed with either stage I or II BC •Too ill to communicate
First degree relative (FDR)	•FDR of a woman diagnosed with either stage III or IV BC and identified by patient as a FDR •Aware of patient's diagnosis and directly involved in the care giving process •Have no personal history of malignancy •Fluent in either “Twi” (local language) or English language (spoken languages of first author)	•FDR not aware of patient's diagnosis •Second degree relative of patient •Have a history of malignancy
Clinician	•Delivering palliative care services at the out-patient palliative care clinic •Providing cancer care to breast cancer patients and families •Providing breast care services (surgeon) •Had more than one-year working experience in BC care and/or palliative care	•Clinicians who were not involve in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and palliative care services. •Those with ≥1 year working experience in breast cancer and palliative care