Appendix 1: Methodology for Case Study 1

Case Study 1 has been extracted from the author's doctoral thesis (Simmonds, 2011). It utilised a narrative inquiry to capture older people's experiences about physical activity in a rural area of the UK. The research started in June 2007 and was completed in November 2011. Seven focus groups, 20 indepth interviews, 16 activity diaries (capturing physical activity experiences), and 19 re-interviews with visual elicitation (using healthy living leaflets, see Appendix 3 for an example) were triangulated. Data was analysed inductively using thematic analysis. For a more detailed account of the methodology, see Simmonds (2011).

Appendix 2: Research team and methodology for Case Study 2

Methodology for paramedic participant data

This qualitative study was nested within a feasibility trial exploring whether paramedics could administer a questionnaire about fracture risk to patients who had fallen (ISRCTN36245726). The fieldwork was based in an English Ambulance Foundation Trust and data collection took place between August 2013 and February 2014 (for the protocol, see Clarke et al, 2014). The qualitative study comprised methods observing practice by shadowing paramedics, followed by semi-structured interviews. Bethany Simmonds [BS] (Research Fellow) signed confidentiality statements and governance assurances were in place. Potential participants of both genders and with a range of years of experience were purposely sampled using the list of paramedics involved in the feasibility trial; they were sent study information packs and then telephoned about participation. Paramedics indicated whether they were interested in taking part and those who were completed consent forms. In total, 14 paramedics were approached and all agreed to take part. Data collection ceased when saturation was reached and no new themes emerged.

In eight sessions of shadowing, BS observed paramedics’ everyday practice. Eight of these paramedics were interviewed during or after the shadowing and a further six paramedics were interviewed at another time. Paramedics were observed while they attended patients over 50 years who had fallen. Observation was chosen as a useful method because of the situation, interplay between different organisations, and emotional reactions of both the paramedics and patients to the situation and how it unfolded.