107 Patients’ and volunteers’ experiences with a social network intervention 4 Theme 1: dealing with patient receptivity “I have no friends or family so I can use a coach, when I'm ready” – patient 017 As shown in Table 1, a small proportion of the patient sample (n = 6) were not matched to a coach (i.e., no compliance group). These patients reported being unable or unwilling to start with the FNC intervention. Furthermore, one patient did not meet the coach in person after being matched and another small proportion of patients (n = 6) did not regularly meet the coach in person during the 12-month FNC-intervention timeframe (i.e., low compliance group). Nevertheless, a small minority of patients (n = 9) regularly met the coach in person (i.e., high compliance group). A common reported barrier affecting the level of engagement of patients in FNC was their receptivity. Three different subthemes related to patient receptivity emerged from the interviews with patients from all compliance groups and coaches: (1) willingness, (2) attitudes, and (3) timing. Willingness Experiences regarding patients’ willingness, first, to accept contact with a coach and, second, to actively improve their social networks were often discussed by participants. Regarding the first, most participants showed that patients were willing to meet with their coach – open to a new social contact (see further under Theme 2). Furthermore, in some cases, participants revealed that patients took initiative to make contact, which positively influenced the frequency and quality of contact between dyads. However, regarding the second, many participants revealed that patients were unable or unwilling to improve their social network. Patients indicated no need for social network enhancement or argued that they did not need assistance from a coach to enhance their social network. Several patients emphasized having developed enough social relationships and friends and having the ability to enhance social networks on their own. Additionally, several patients argued that FNC would be helpful for socially isolated patients. "...[Name of patient] just wanted a buddy, a more traditional buddy […]. Someone who is there, with whom you can discuss your problems, someone you wouldn’t normally meet so quickly. […] [name of patient] was not actively looking for a new network, [he] has friends. No doubt something is lacking in the quality of some friendships ... but I don't think network […] was his only question." – coach 026. A number of coaches indicated that patients’ willingness was sometimes difficult to assess, because they suspected patients to act in a socially desirable way. Several patients indicated that they felt like they had no choice. They participated to satisfy therapists or other professionals, which was also noted by coaches.
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