Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Lucy - Interview 05

Lucy has had type 1 diabetes for 11 years. Two years ago her mother was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. There was a period when her diabetes control overall wasn't very good. Lucy has been working with her consultant at improving her overall control by setting an action plan, like for instance 'losing weight'. She is feeling much better now.

  • Background

    Lucy is doing her AS levels, plans to do A-levels and wants to go to university. She lives with her parents and younger sister. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 17
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Helene - Interview 04

    Helene has had sickle cell anemia since birth. Sickle cell is when the blood cells are shaped like a half moon and they cannot pass through the veins so easily and this causes pain in, for example, elbows and knees. Helene takes penicillin and folic acid everyday and needs to avoid getting cold.

  • Background

    Helene lives with her mother and her sister. Finished her A-levels and now works as a beautician. Ethnic background/nationality: African.

  • Age at interview 23
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Lara - Interview 03

    Lara was diagnosed with myoclonic juvenile epilepsy when she was 17 years old. She became depressed and lost her confidence after diagnosis but she wasn't offered counselling. Her nurse has provided her with lots of support. Nowadays she jokes about her epilepsy giving it derogatory names and says that it is one way of coping with it. She has no problem in telling others about her epilepsy.

  • Background

    Lara is a full time student nurse and lives in shared accommodation with three other young people. She has just recently moved out of the family home. Ethnic background/nationality: White.

  • Age at interview 24
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Catherine - Interview 02

    For many years Catherine stayed on a treatment that was not successfully controlling her epilepsy. And as a teenager she didn't know much about the different medications available. In her early twenties her new consultant put her on new medication that has improved the overall management of her condition.

  • Background

    After reading Theology at university Catherine went to work for an epilepsy charity and now works as a trainer for a Department of Health funded project. Single. Ethnic background/nationality: White...

  • Age at interview 29
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Elizabeth - Interview 01

    Elizabeth was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 16. She now works for a Department of Health funded project. She says that as a teenager she 'rebelled' against her condition and stopped taking her painkillers. Her attitude now is to work with her condition rather than against it. She takes regular exercise and does a lot of walking.

  • Background

    Elizabeth lives at home with her family – mum, dad and younger sister plus two cats. Ethnic background/nationality: White British. At university she applied for Disabled Student Allowance and says...

  • Age at interview 22
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 13

    Thinks that Depo Provera is the best contraceptive method for her. (Played by an actor)

  • Background

    Final year at University. She is in a serious relationship, and she and her partner agreed to go for STI testing before stopping using condoms. (Played by an actor)

  • Age at interview 24
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 45

    She is of the opinion that men can be intimidated by women who are open about enjoying sex. (Played by an actor)

  • Background

    She finished secondary school and is taking a year out before going to University. She works full time and shares a house with other young people. (Played by an actor)

  • Age at interview 19
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 44

    She participated in the activities of a Gay and Lesbian Youth Group. One of the main tasks of the group was to provide awareness about sexually transmitted infections. (Played by an actor)

  • Background

    Young Scottish lesbian woman who lives with her partner. She works part-time and they shared a house with another friend. (Played by an actor)

  • Age at interview 25
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 42

    At the age of seventeen she contracted Chlamydia and genital herpes. After that experience she insisted on her partners using a condom. (Played by an actor)

  • Background

    She is married with a small child and works full time. Her husband also works full-time and her in-laws help to take care of their child. (Played by an actor)

  • Age at interview 22
  • Sex/Gender Female

    • Interview 41

    An ex-partner told her that he found out that an ex-sexual partner of his had been diagnosed with HIV. (Played by an actor)

  • Background

    At the time of the interview she was living in shared accommodation and working and studying at the same time. (Played by an actor)

  • Age at interview 21
  • Sex/Gender Female