Qualitative analysis of Achilles tendon rupture (NHS)

The PLOS ONE qualitative study (15 UK patients, mean age 54.5) identified three dominant themes: variable injury recognition and access, boot self-management problems, and rehabilitation dominated by fear of re-rupture.

• The study (published 29 June 2026) interviewed 15 participants, mean age 54.5, with interviews averaging 30 minutes and mean time post-injury at interview 8.9 months.
• Patient experience findings: unpredictable symptom presentation, confusion over treatment choices, boot hygiene and adjustment problems, and psychological barriers such as fear of re-rupture.
• Service findings: emergency department delays, inconsistent clinician messaging, and limited access to timely physiotherapy support.
• Practical actions: simplify early messaging, standardise boot guidance (written + video), offer early touchpoints, and measure downstream service impacts.

The study used semi-structured, one-to-one interviews and reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes. Interviews averaged 30 minutes, were recorded and transcribed, two researchers independently coded early transcripts, and the wider team reviewed themes.

• Key experiential findings: unpredictable symptom presentation (sometimes painless), confusion over treatment choices, practical problems with boot hygiene and adjustment, and psychological barriers (fear of re-rupture) during return to activity.
• System issues: emergency department delays, inconsistent messaging from clinicians, and limited access to timely physiotherapy support.
• Reporting and governance: the study follows COREQ standards and received ethical approval from London – Bromley REC (22/PR/1720).

This checklist gives an 8-step mini workflow to reproduce the PLOS study and generate stakeholder-ready recommendations within two weeks.

• 1) Gather source files: audio, consent forms, and a demographics spreadsheet.
• 2) Upload to Evidano and run transcription, using a custom dictionary for clinical terms.
• 3) Import a codebook or let the AI suggest initial codes; review the first three transcripts with colleagues to observe reflexivity.
• 4) Run thematic extraction and frequency tables; filter results by segment such as age or injury mechanism.
• 5) Generate a co-occurrence network for key codes like fear, boot, hygiene, and access.
• 6) Export quote packs for clinicians and patient-facing materials, with clickable quotes and timestamps.
• 7) Run targeted AI avatar follow-ups for missing subgroups (for example, women or older adults).
• 8) Produce a one-page executive brief and visual dashboards for service redesign meetings.

The PLOS ONE study provides clear thematic priorities: simplify early messaging, support boot self-management, and address fear during rehab.

• Start by uploading one interview and review the automated thematic draft in minutes.
• Pilot the eight-step workflow above to produce an evidence-based improvement brief for clinicians.
• Ready to try? Try Evidano for free and compare how quickly you can turn 15 interviews into clear service actions.