Shared decision making

Not working/voluntary work for Fibromyalgia Association; single.

Medically retired care officer; married; 3 children.

Retired careers officer; married; 2 children.

Scientist; single; 1 child.

Nurse; married; 2 children.

Nurse (not working), voluntary work; married; 2 children.

Retired health visitor; divorced; 3 children.

Andy is a supply manager in IT and is married with two adult children (twins aged 24). Ethnic background/Nationality - White British.

Pamela is the Director of a health-related organisation. She is divorced with one adult child aged 28. Ethnic background/Nationality - White British.

Paul is an aircraft engineer and is married with 4 grown-up children aged 34, 32, 27 and 25 years. Ethnic background/Nationality - British.

Lawrence works in the catering trade and is married with three young children. Ethnic background/Nationality - Born in Zimbabwe.

Zoe is a hairdresser who lives with her partner and has no children. Ethnic background/Nationality - White British.

Sylvia is an administrator who lives with her partner and has one son aged 11. Ethnic background/Nationality - Black British.

Has only recently returned to full time work. He was diagnosed with HIV as a university student, and in 1997 he very nearly died from HIV-related illnesses.

A black African female health professional who presented with bleeding due to Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in early 2005. She was hospitalised where she was diagnosed with HIV.

A single gay male who was diagnosed with HIV early on in the HIV epidemic. He has never been ill from HIV, and has an undetectable viral load.

A gay man of British/Irish descent who works full-time and is in a long-term partnership.

A gay man born in France who moved to the UK 19 years ago, and is in a long-term relationship. He was diagnosed following a period of poor health.

A 33 year old black African female with a young 5 year old child. She was diagnosed as HIV positive as part of pregnancy screening.

Malcolm's diabetes was diagnosed 15 years ago after a routine eyesight test. Initially his diabetes was controlled by diet but now he takes metformin, gliclazide and pioglitazone.

Tina was diagnosed 12 years ago. Initially she tried to control diabetes with diet alone, then transferred to metformin. In 2004 she changed to insulin and now takes Levimir at night.

Melanie is a journalist. She is married and has one child. Ethnic background/nationality - White British.

Stuart broke his neck in 1997, aged 47, when he fell into a river whilst on a fishing trip. He became tetraplegic. He worked with an organisation that designed a leg bag emptying device powered by his wheelchair. He has a suprapubic catheter.

Alex is a disability consultant. She is married. Ethnic background/nationality - White British.

James has a renal condition called Senior Loken Syndrome and it means that his kidneys didn't develop as he grew older. James was diagnosed with his condition when he was eleven years old and since then he has spent much of his time on dialysis. Four times a week he goes to hospital to have dialysis and he is able to attend school two days a week. This condition affects both his kidneys and his eyes and James is now registered blind.

Jamie has a heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He was diagnosed when he was six days old and underwent pioneering and life saving surgery. He gets breathless very easily and is not allowed to play any contact sports. Jamie absolutely loves football so at home he plays it in the garden with his sister and a neighbour.

A highly educated health professional working full time. He is a black African man married with children.

Harriet is a management consultant and is married. Ethnic background/nationality - Jewish Russian/Polish

Karin works as a director/administrator. She is married and has one child. Ethnic background/nationality' Jewish

Michelle is a tutor and housewife. She is married and has 3 children. Ethnic background/nationality - Jewish

Part time piano teacher, married, 2 children