Table 5 Themes and categories illustrating women’s views in response to questions relating to participating in the prevention of striae gravidarum trial

Influencers: Current trial participation

I want a choice

… if I was participating in it I think I’d prefer to be in the group that would be doing it as opposed to the group that’s doing nothing […] like if I was told I was in the group to do nothing well maybe I’d already been you know a bit concerned about stretch marks and so I’d be a bit more concerned you know maybe it would put me off. (Participant 1)

… if it was randomised and then you were in the group that wasn’t that would kind of, that would have been one of the reasons as well for saying not to on it […] because I had it in my head I had planned on starting it I didn’t want to be randomised into the group that was not. (Participant 2)

... if I was put in the group that wasn’t to use any moisturiser that straight away you know I’d only be lying (laughing) I’m not going to stop the habit of a lifetime. (Participant 3)

...I think when the choices are taken out of your hand that is hardier for me. It was just picked at random I don’t know how you would pick it but I know I would struggle with random selection of how the people would be chosen. (Participant 5)

If it was something that I hadn’t considered I wouldn’t mind being in either or of the groups obviously if it was no harm to myself or the baby there was no risk of harm. (Participant 6)

...I think that if I did feel strongly one way or the other about whether I wanted to use the cream or not I wouldn’t mind taking part if I got to choose what options I would have to go with. (Participant 9)

...I probably wouldn’t have been happy because I wouldn’t have had the choice you know. (Participant 11)

...I would not want to be in the group without using any kind of product just because I feel like I would want to use one either way. Just to be as a precaution so if I was in one of the group without the oil and then I would (laughs) disappointed as I want to use something anyway. (Participant 16)

Trial requirements should fit with my routine

...I shower twice a day and I’ve no problem I keep a diary anyway. So there would be no bother with either of those [trial requirements]. (Participant 1)

...I wouldn’t like to commit to it and then forget to do it and then not, and put an inaccurate detail on it. But that would be a little thing actually for me when I think about it day to day. (Participant 2)

… the cream would be my morning routine anyway […] I wouldn’t have a problem with that [diary], you are not noting down, it wouldn’t take a massive amount of time. (Participant 3)

… when you [researcher] gave me details of how the trial would be run and the amount of times you would have to apply it during the day. And that you would have to shower in the morning I just feel that I wouldn’t have the dedication to it to you know give you satisfactory results. (Participant 5)

I would have no problem with that [trial requirements] if you use the online tool that I can keep track on my phone or something that would make it even handier for me. (Participant 6)

… yes again that could be like people might just feel like it might get in the way of their routine kind of like maybe they don’t want to have a shower in the morning or they usually have their shower before they go to bed or something like that you know. That might be a problem or a nuisance or something. (Participant 8)

...I can see how you need everybody to have the same conditions when they are applying the oil l can see why you set that kind of a standard. To be honest it’s just an extra piece of work I know like everybody showers of course but some people might be showering before bed and others might be showering in the morning. And if I need to do it every day and if they are leaving it a day and they can’t do that it’s another pressure. (Participant 9).

I suppose if you keep it in a reminder on your phone excerpt for diaries because I know I am difficult to forget or to bring it with me or if I went away for the weekend you can forget your diary and where would you write it. […] If you had a little quick even a word like email google doc like you know you can get into on your phone all the time. (Participant 10)

… that is a fairly easy because I suppose I leave the oil on my bedside locker so I could leave the pen and paper there as well and just jot it when I did it. (Participant 11)

I don’t know if I would commit to that [trial requirements] …

(Participant 13)

...I suppose it would be fine if it was just like a tick like diary you know something like very quick. […] You don’t want things that take up too much [time] … (Participant 14)

...I do know some people that don’t shower that often you know maybe once every three days or something so then I would think maybe it’s not if you weren’t showering as frequently then you are not applying the lotion every day. So and that would be the only issue I could see … (Participant 16)