Qualitative inquiry provides a powerful means to investigate which contextual mechanisms contribute to intervention uptake and adherence. Ethnography is efficacious in researching social interactions, behaviours and perceptions within groups, teams, organisations and communities, and can provide rich insights into individual/group views and actions.
This ethnographic study will draw on longitudinal observations and two in-depth interviews conducted over a 6-month period with 10-20 participants. Working with two NHS Trusts, the researcher will collaborate with cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation staff to opportunistically recruit those who have opted to and opted not to attend core cardiac rehabilitation. Eligibility screening will take place as part of usual clinical care, with study criteria mirroring that of cardiac rehabilitation eligibility criteria. Snowball sampling will be used to recruit a maximum of two significant others (family and/or friends) as identified by patients. Thematic analysis sensitive to a Bourdieusian theoretical framework will be employed
