Exploring the Caregiver Role after Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease: A Qualitative Analysis

Table 1

Breakdown of how superordinate theme 1 from husband 3 year 1’s interview evolved.

Themes IPA interview table husband 3 year 1	Keywords taken from transcript
Superordinate theme 1: if she is well, I am well
PET1: living a combined life
Prior to and post DBS, he feels the effects of PD so much he feels as if he has it too	I do not think of myself as (a carer); It is just our life…; We actually say, you know, we have got Parkinson’s, if you like so it is more inclusive
His life is very entwined with hers, DBS makes their conjoined lives better now but he cannot stop their combined life from declining	It is like a combined life, is how I see it really; We thought well this is not working very well so we will do it ourselves
PET 2: the caring carer irrespective of DBS
He likes how well he cares for her and is proud that he maintained his relationship as a husband rather than carer prior to DBS	I have to help with all that…; I do not always wait to be asked either, it is quite a sort of delicate…
He desperately wants to ease as much of her suffering as possible and fears that he is not able to post DBS	I worry sometimes, I am not being thoughtful enough, have missed something… anxious; I: is that even now after DBS?; H3Y1: generally, yeah