Table 2.

Brief example of data analysis of the importance of family support theme.

Phase 1: Familiarization with data	Phase 2: Creation of initial codes	Phase 3: Search for themes; codes applied across the entire dataset and put into meaningful groups.	Phase 4: Review of whether themes work in relation to the codes	Phase 5: Definition and naming of final themes	Phase 6: Report, pairing findings with selected relevant quotations
The interviews were transcribed and read several times and initial codes were noted.	Nurses are so sweet, but they are not family. Alone with thoughts. Difficult to have life-threatening illness and not have any family visits. Suddenly, I had to sit there alone. It is also hard for them	Patients' need for family involvement in critical times Caregivers' need fprinvolvement	The importance of the family for patients and family caregivers in critical times	The importance of family support	“… it is better to have four ears than two” (b-02) “So it was a little difficult to be life-threateningly ill, and then lie there without getting any family visits. I actually g0t my mother to visit once, because I was really sick, but we only had half an hour together” (c-03) “.. you are very much alone with your own thoughts. You do not have any support from the family. And it's not because you cannot use hospital staff - you can easily. But it's just not the same as the family” (c-03) “… then it is sometimes reassuring to have my husband in hand” (c-06)