Shared decision making

Children' 2 (ages 4 and 2), Occupation' Mother - teacher, Father - accountant, Marital status' Living with partner.

Children - First baby, 11 months old. Occupations - Mother - Home carer (formerly HR consultant), Father - HR Manager, Marital status - Married.

Children: First baby, 7.5 months old, Occupation: Mother - charity worker, Father (age 45 at interview) - researcher for a charity, Marital status: Partnered.

Children: First pregnancy ended at 17 weeks, Occupation: Mother - opera singer, Father (age 42 at interview) - chartered surveyor, Marital status: Married.

Pregnancy ended in 2002. No of children - 2 + [1]. Ages of other children at interview - 6, 1. Occupations - Mother - formerly a legal secretary, Father - Joiner. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 2003. No of children - 1 + [1]. Age of other child at interview - 4. Occupations - Mother - mother and housewife, Father - policeman. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 2002. No of children - 3 + [1]. Ages of other children at interview - 7, 3 and 9 months. Occupation - Mother - mother, formerly TEFL teacher, Father - IT consultant. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 1998. No of children - 2 + [1]. Ages of other children at interview - 6, 4. Occupations - Mother - nurse, Father - warehouse manager. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 2003. No of children - [1] at time of interview, twins born since interview. Occupations - Mother - programme manager, Father - senior change manager. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 2000. No. of children at time of interview - [1] + 1. Age of other child - 2. Occupations - Mother - nurse, Father - company director. Marital status - married. Ethnic background - White British.

Pregnancy ended in 1999. No. of children at time of interview - 3 + [1]. Ages of other children - 7, 4, and 3. Occupations - Mother - nursery teacher, Father - network manager. Marital status - Married. Ethnic background - White British.

At time of interview: married, two children, aged 2.5 yrs (daughter) and second child due. Parent's occupations: Mother- Administrator, Father- Company Secretary. Ethnic background: White British.

At time of interview: married, one daughter, aged 5 years. Parent's occupations: Mother- Nursing Auxilary, Father- Plasterer. Ethnic background: White British.

At time of interview: married, two children, aged 4.5 years (son) and 2 years (daughter). Both children are lactose intolerant. Parents' occupations: Mother- Accountant, Father- Home Dad. Ethnic background: White British.

At time of interview: married, three sons, aged 9 years, 7 years and 1 year. Parents' occupations: Both are full time carers for their 7-year-old son who is severely autistic. Ethnic background: White-British.

At time of interview: married, one son, aged 22 months. Parents' occupations: Mother- Full time mum, Father- Dental Technician. Ethnic background: White-British.

At time of interview: married, one son, aged 2 years. Born premature at 26 weeks. Parents' occupations: Mother- Textile Designer, Father- Carpenter. Ethnic background: White British.

At time of interview: married, two children, aged 5 years (daughter), aged 19 months (son). Parents' occupations: Mother- Housewife, Father- Business Advisor. Ethnic background: White-British.

Married couple with no children. Female partner aged 37, office manager. Male partner aged 51, engineer. Ethnic background/nationality: Both Italian.

Dentist with twins aged four and a half. Husband is also a dentist. Ethnic background: White British (Northern Irish).

Housewife, married with two children aged 3 and 5 months. Ethnic background/nationality: Pakistani.

Keen on unassisted birth with first child. Slow to go into labour and dilate. Had epidural and then CS two days after waters broke. Felt cheated at first but adjusted with time. Had planned CS with 2nd child to avoid previous ordeal.

Rushed to have CS after baby passed meconium and stopped moving. Had quick recovery. Keen to experience vaginal birth with 2nd child, laboured for 66 hours. Some complications afterwards but glad to have experienced giving birth both ways.

Admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia, 1st child was born 6 weeks premature and had to spend 10 days in SCBU. Found it very difficult to decide how to give birth to 2nd child, worried about risks either way. Had vaginal birth assisted by ventouse.

Married couple with two children aged 11 and 2. Mother aged 31, full-time mother. Father aged 34, unemployed. Ethnic background/nationality: Bangladeshi.

Married housewife with four children aged 10, 9, 8 and 2. Husband unemployed. Ethnic background/nationality: Pakistani.

Registered childminder, with three children aged 13, 11 and 9, is now pregnant with new partner. Ethnic background/nationality: Black African.

For DTaP/IPV/Hib - Followed recommendations of health professionals. For MMR - She read an independent literature review published in a Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin on studies examining the link between autism and MMR, which helped her to make a decision

For all immunisations - Her medical training and her experience of growing up in a third world country helped her to make decisions about her daughter's immunisations.

Mary is a self-employed charity consultant. She is married with no children. She started the menopause at age 46 and had her last period aged 53. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Charlotte is a university professor. She is married with two adult daughters. She started the menopause at age 47. Ethnic background/nationality: Welsh/Caribbean.

Lorna is a research manager. She is married with an adult son and stepdaughter. She started the menopause at age 51. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Nancy is a teacher. She is married with three adult children. She started the menopause at age 45 and had her last period at 47. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Carole is a part-time administrator. She is married with no children. She started the menopause at age 48. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Annette is a part-time dinner lady and carer. She is single with four children ranging in age from 2 to 22. She started the menopause at age 44. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Rose is a personnel manager. She is married with two adult children. She started the menopause at age 43 and had her last period at 45. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Janice is a health worker. She is divorced with three adult daughters. She started the menopause at age 45 and had her last period at 57. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Jane is a research lecturer. She is married with three adult children. She started the menopause at age 50 and has been taking HRT for the past 15 years. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Janet is a retired probation officer. She is widowed with four adult children. She started the menopause at age 55 and was a long-term user of HRT until four years ago. Ethnic background/nationality - White British.

Children: 1, aged 23 months at time of interview. Occupations: Mother- teacher and counsellor, Father- university lecturer. Marital status: married. Ethnic background: White British.

1 child, aged 17 months at time of interview. Occupation: self-employed consultant. Marital status: married. Ethnic background: White British.

Married couple, with one child aged 14 months. Mother aged 36, father 35. Both are solicitors. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Married housewife with four children aged 6, 5, 3 and 9 months. Ethnic background/nationality: Pakistani.