Researchers’ stance
Interviews were carried out and transcribed by two of the authors (JS and RT). Both are female, trained clinicians (nurse and psychologist), well-acquainted with the practices of MET, but neither was a therapist at the clinic where treatments were conducted. Authors JS and SIH (both female) were both active as research coordinators in the RCT, and acquainted with the individuals who participated in the study. Authors SIH (female) and AH (male) are both trained MI therapists, but were not active as therapists in the current project. The authors’ pre-understanding of MI/MET as clinicians at the treatment site could potentially have had an impact on the analysis. The two-legged position as both therapists and researchers was key in critically evaluating and interpreting data. Lastly, author CN (female) is a senior researcher with long experience of qualitative research. CN is affiliated with a different university and was therefore not involved in the data collection process, or active as a therapist at the clinic, which allowed for a more distanced view of the data.