Table 2 Example of the analytical process with the text, meaning units, condensation, codes and themes

P: Yes exactly and maybe rather that they had not been asked before that it … felt strange

I: Yes

P: … mm but that one in such a late stage was asked about oral health

that they had not been asked before and it felt strange that one in such a late stage was asked about oral health

Patients felt that it was strange that they were not asked about oral health until such a late stage

Not being asked about oral health

Oral health is easily overlooked in palliative care

P: We have guidelines for everything else but I have never seen any memo or anything concerning oral health.

I: That is interesting

P: well … I am sure that we do it in different ways

We have guidelines for everything else but I have never seen any memo or anything concerning oral health; I am sure that we do it in different ways

Having guidelines for everything but oral health and never seen memos or anything about it

Guidelines for oral health are lacking

Focus on oral health is urgently needed