Table of focus group composition
| Location | Group | Number of participants | M:F ratio | Age | Ethnicity (self-defined) | Composition notes |
| Centre 1 | Young people | 3 | 0:3 | 15–16 years | 3 White British | Two participants with Hodgkin’s disease, one with ALL. One participant with no febrile neutropenia episodes, one with one low-risk episode, one with six high-risk episodes. All episodes treated at PTC (two episodes started at POSCU but transferred to PTC). No ICU admissions. One course of chemo delayed following high-risk episode. Admissions 2–10 days (most 5–6 days). |
| Centre 1 | Parents of under 13 years | 3 | 0:3 | 36–43 years | 3 White British | All nuclear families with two children. Two degree-level education, one GCSE level. All employed. Partners same educational and employment. Two own house, one rents privately. Affected children aged 4–10 years. Two ALL, one medulloblastoma. Between 2–10 episodes of FN; 0–8 high-risk episodes each, 1–2 low-risk episodes each. All managed at PTC. No ICU. One removal of line. One delayed course of chemo. Admissions 2–19 days (most 48–72 hours). |
| Centre 1 | Parents of over 13 years | 5 | 2:3 | 41–53 years | All White British | Three nuclear families with 2–3 children. One blended family (both parents present), with three children. One degree-level education, one A level, one ONC, two GCSE level. All employed except one who is semiretired (to care for child). Partners same educational and employment levels. All own house, four with mortgage. Four have children who participated in young people’s group. Affected children 13–16 years old. Two with Hodgkin’s disease, one with ALL, one with relapsed ALL. One patient with no febrile neutropenia episodes, one with one low-risk episode, one with six high-risk episodes, one with seven high-risk episodes and one low-risk episode. All episodes treated at PTC (two episodes started at POSCU but transferred to PTC). No ICU admissions. Two courses of chemo delayed following high-risk episodes. Admissions 2–10 days (most 5–6 days). |
| Centre 1 | Healthcare professionals | 7 | 3:4 | 30–51 years | 6 White British, 1 Chinese | Three medical (SHO, registrar and consultant), four nursing (bands 5–7). 1–13 years at current grade. 1–24 years at current centre. |
| Centre 2 | Parents of under 13 years | 5 | 1:4 | 35–44 years | All White British | All nuclear families with 2–7 children. Two participants from same family. Three with degree-level education, two with O levels. One employed, four homemakers/carers. Partners—one degree-level education, one A levels, one HNC, two with O levels. Two employed, one self-employed, two homemakers/carers. Three own house (two with mortgage), two rent privately. Affected children 2–9 years old. Diseases relapsed Wilm’s tumour, ALL, osteosarcoma, ependymoma. 2–7 episodes of febrile neutropenia; 1–5 high-risk episodes each, 0–2 low-risk episodes each. All but one managed in PTC. No ICU admissions. One course of chemo delayed. Admissions 2–14 days (median 4 days). |
| Centre 2 | Healthcare Professionals | 3 | 0:3 | 43–60 years | 1 White British, 1 Indian (British), 1 Pakistani | Two medical (registrar, consultant), one nursing. 7 months–20 years at current grade. 7 months–28 years at current centre. |
| Centre 3 | Parents of under 13 years | 3 | 0:3 | 36–45 years | All White British | Two nuclear families with two children. One blended family with seven children. One A level education, two O level. All employed. Partners same educational and employment levels. Two own house (with mortgage), one rents from local authority. Affected children 4–8 years old. All with ALL. 4–9 episodes of febrile neutropenia; 1–8 high-risk episodes each, 0–3 low-risk episodes each. All in POSCU (one later transferred to PTC). One admission to PICU after high-risk episode. Three delayed courses of chemo after high-risk episodes. Admissions 2–14 days (most 48–72 hours). |
| Centre 3 | Healthcare Professionals | 3 | 0:3 | 30–55 years | All White British | One medical, two nursing (band 7). 3–12 years at current grade. 5–12 years at current centre. |
ALL, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia; GCSE, General Certificate of Secondary Education; HNC, Higher National Certificate; ICU, intensive care unit; ONC, Ordinary National Certificate; PICU, paediatric intensive care unit; POSCU, Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit; PTC, primary treatment centre; SHO, Senior House Officer.