Qualitative data collection and analysis

Data sources used for evaluation of the implementation strategy are shown in table 3. These will include data from a structured interview of a maximum variable sample that will reflect the context (primary, secondary and tertiary care), and the functions and skill levels of the staff (eg, nurses, doctors, etc.). Based on pragmatic considerations, at least five nurses and five primary care doctors from 16 FHCs, three to five ophthalmologists from secondary and tertiary care, two data entry operators and five ASHAs and one health service administrator should be included to get the maximum variability. Verbal consent will be obtained from these health professionals. The interviews will be conducted by an independent member from the GCRF/UKRI-funded team, who is not involved in this study, in the local language within the premises of the healthcare provider. The focus group will consist of groups of patients and staff within one FHCs. In addition, to the voice-recording of the interviews and focus group, interviewers will write field notes to describe the interview situation. The interviews and focus group content will provide the basis for the data analysis, which will be based on a descriptive phenomenological approach without data or opinion interpretation and will include transcription, condensation, coding and categorisation using qualitative analysis tools. We will use the field notes collected during the interviews to inform the understanding of the phenomenon studied.

A survey of all referred patients will be done using a structured questionnaire to evaluate their satisfaction and their perception of the barriers and facilitators. All qualitative data will be coded using NVivo and analysed using descriptive phenomenological approach following the strategy.²⁷ We will transcribe the interview data, identify statements or phrases, create formulated meanings or meaning units, aggregate formulated meanings and incorporate the result into descriptions.