Table 1 Interview guide

i.

Questions about demographic data

[Age, partner or spouse, other close relatives, dwelling, work, distances to hospital and health care center]

ii.

Describe your medical history

[When did your kidney disease start; how old were you then; how long have you had the dialysis at home; have you had other dialysis modalities; have you had kidney transplants; in case how many]

iii.

Describe how your communication with the health care services functions

[Where do you go for follow-up and how often; do you have contact with other specialists, your GP or other parts of primary health care; in case how are these informed about your kidney disease and the dialysis treatment, and do you think that they can help you if needed]

iv.

Describe your experiences living with home dialysis

[How is your general experience with home dialysis; do you feel safe or is there something that makes you anxious or uncomfortable; have you had any technical problems with the equipment, whom do you contact then to get help; have you had any medical complications or emergencies, whom have you then contacted for help]

v.

Describe how it was to choose between the different treatment options

[How did you get information, from doctors, nurses, patient association, other patients, other info; what were the decisive factors for choosing this form of dialysis; did you find the information you received adequate; was there anything that could make you safer if you were unsure; do you feel that you made the right choice, or would you have chosen differently now that you know more; what could in case helped you to make other choices]

vi.

Describe how was the training in home dialysis

[Where did it take place, what kind of staff was responsible; what was good and what was less good with the training; how long were you in hospital for the training; how did you feel when you were ready to go home, were you confident or anxious, in case for what reasons; what could you want differently or in addition to the information and training that you got]

vii.

Describe what it was like when you got home and had to do the dialysis on your own

[Did you need help from others in your daily life to cope with the dialysis, for instance family members, home visiting nurse service; was there any follow-up that you needed]

viii.

General knowledge and use of technologies in daily life

[Questions and observations about competence in use of ordinary technological equipment like mobile phones/personal computers; attitude towards using new/unfamiliar technology]

ix.

What could potentially make the home situation with dialysis easier and safer with telemedicine?

[Would this make it easier to choose home treatment over hospital dialysis; what is the preconditions to take such technology into use, (training, helpdesk); in what situations would you see a possible use; who would you prefer to contact; for how long do you think it appropriate to have the equipment and service available]