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Article History

Received: 9 January 2017

Accepted: 30 July 2018

First Online: 5 September 2018

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: The project was given ethical approval by the Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (00443/2011).Prior to consent the researcher explained the study verbally to all participants, and then all participants were provided with a written study participant information sheet which included details about: the study aims, anonymity and confidentiality, how their data would be stored, and how the data would be used and disseminated. Participants who agreed to take part gave verbal consent prior to interview. At the time of interview the study was again explained verbally and the participants had the opportunity to ask questions, verbal and written consent was then taken via the study consent form.

: Participants were informed via the study participant information sheet that the findings from their anonymised data may be used to write publications. In the written study consent form they confirmed that they had read the participant information sheet and were aware that their data would be anonymised in written reports, publications and presentations.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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