Fig. 1: Issues discussed in focus group (FG) Discussion 5.

The web was constructed using textual codes and numerical counts. Initially, each ‘turn’ (or phase of talk) in the FG transcript was linked to an identifiable speaker. Following that, the content of the turn was allocated to a node label or code (sometimes a number of codes). Node labels used included ‘my diabetes’, ‘injections’, ‘eye test’, ‘virtual clinic’, ‘the doctor’, ‘nurse’, ‘photographer’, and so forth. A simple count of the number of times that a specific speaker could be linked to a code, and the number of times that one code was associated with another in the same turn, was subsequently used as the basis for the construction of a 20 × 20 square matrix. The matrix was then integrated into social network software (using Pajek [23]) to generate a graphical representation of the discussion. Within the graph, node size reflects the number of turns that an individual speaker took during the meeting, or the number of times that an issue was referred to. The thickness of the links between nodes (the arcs) reflects the number of times that any one code was associated with another in the responses of participants. Because the diagram was generated using a Fruchterman–Reingold projection, distances between nodes are suggestive of the closeness (or otherwise) of the links between them (unfortunately, overlapping P2–P4 nodes, had to be separated manually to enhance clarity). Given large variations in the node and arc size, the counts were scaled using a square root transformation. ANX anxiety, AI artificial intelligence for detecting change in retina, DIABETES My diabetes, DRIVE Car Driving, THE DOC Consultant; FEEDBAK Information and results for ‘me’, FOTOG Photographer, INJECT Injections, LAMPEX Slit-lamp exam with doctor, OPTOS Optos imager, VIRT CLINIC Virtual Consultation, WAIT Waiting during routine visits. Participants are labelled ‘Pn.’.