Data analysis was accomplished using van Manen’s (1990) holistic, selective, and detailed line-by-line approach. After a thorough analysis of the data from each individual interview, the researcher began to classify the codes across the interviews. Codes were then further analysed as to whether they were essential and relevant to the specific phenomenon of the study. It was apparent that the data related to the participants needed to be grouped accordingly because the perception of their experiences pertained to the ICU experience per se and their experiences of the other (i.e. for patients and family members, this was the patient’s nurse, while for the nurse, this was the patient and their family members). The only data included in the analysis were the participants' experiences of the other, as these were the only ones that were included from each category, as these directly related to the phenomenon of the study. Further phenomenological thematic analysis was done in an effort to illuminate the essence of the experiences of the participants of the other. Responses from the three categories of participants were noted to be interrelated and integrating. Repetition of themes
from and across each category was evident. Triangulation of the data from the three categories of participants yielded five integrating common themes. Each theme contained several descriptors. All descriptors were considered essential to achieve understanding of the phenomenon.