Sampling and data collection procedure

Participants were selected through purposive sampling. In qualitative research, purposeful sampling is a technique that is widely used for the identification and selection of information-rich cases for the most effective use of limited resources [15]. This involves identifying and selecting participants who are available and willing to participate and should be able to communicate their experiences and opinions in an expressive, articulate, and reflective manner [16–18]. A written and verbal consent was obtained from participants after the purpose of the study was explained to them. The participants were recruited after their daily duty for the interview. Those who had busy schedules after their daily duty were approached on a different day to undertake the interview. Data were collected through in-depth interviews lasting between 30 to 45 minutes using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview guide was developed based on review of related literature. The interview guide was pretested and all necessary corrections were made before commencing the interviews. Face-to-face individual interviews were conducted at the emergency unit of the study hospital in a secluded office. Due to the busy nature of the unit, the authors had to arrange a convenient time with participants who were willing to participate in the study. Questions were asked about emergency care delivery and the challenges experienced during care delivery in the unit. Prompts and probing questions were used for further information and explanation following participants’ responses. During the interview sessions, the researchers provided an enabling environment for participants to express themselves freely without interferences, and leading questions were avoided to ensure that participants were not interrupted when sharing their experiences. Data saturation was reached at the eleventh participant when no new information was obtainable. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim by GKK, DANZ, DKT, and SA. Audio files and transcripts were stored anonymously in a secured protected digital storage system.