............................................................................................................................................... i Table of contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of figures ................................................................................................................................. vii List of tables .................................................................................................................................. viii Transcription guide ...................................................................................................................... ix List of abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... x Attestation of authorship ............................................................................................................ xi Co-authored works ...................................................................................................................... xii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... xiii Ethics approvals ............................................................................................................................ xv Chapter One: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Background to the research: Positioning the researcher .......................................................... 1 Engagement in stroke rehabilitation .................................................................................................. 3 Research aims .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Defining key terms ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Structure of the thesis ........................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter Two: A conceptual review of engagement .......................................................... 15 Conceptual review methodology and methods ........................................................................... 15 Results .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Limitations of review ............................................................................................................................. 45 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 46 Chapter Three: Literature Review ......................................................................................... 47 Patient experiences of healthcare relevant to engagement ................................................... 48