| 151 6 Participants from four of the five participating Joint Programma countries participated in this study (one country was unable to participate due to pandemic restrictions at the time of data collection). Procedures Researchers gathered a convenience sample in each country using convenience sampling strategies. Various recruitment strategies were used including local memory clinics, Alzheimer associations, and local healthcare organizations. People could also indicate interest to participate through a quantitative study examining satisfaction with the diagnostic process and postdiagnostic support that used a similar recruiting approach (36). Participants who indicated their interest in the study were approached through phone calls, social media, mail and emails. Participants received the information letter and could contact researchers for additional information. Written or verbal informed consent was obtained according to the ethical requirements of each country on data collection. Researchers provided additional information if needed, emphasized participation was voluntary and withdrawal was possible at any moment. In all countries but Poland, researchers had no prior connection to participants. Only in the Netherlands, three caregivers withdrew after providing informed consent (sickness, too busy and work commitment during the time of data collection). In Poland, this was not recorded. Study procedures were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (37) and approved by: University of New South Wales, Human Research Ethics Committee (EC): HC190776, McGill University, Research Ethics Institutional Review Board Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: A09-B70-20A, University of Waterloo Office of Research Ethics: 41423, Horizon Health Network Research Ethics Board (REB): 100560, Vitalité Health Network REB: 100858, University of New Brunswick REB: 057-2019, Maastricht University Medical Centre Medical EC: 2019-1064 -A-10 and 2019-1064, Wroclaw Medical University EC: KB–602/2019. Data collection Online focus groups, online interviews, and telephone interviews were utilized as data collection was affected by global COVID-19 restrictions (March to September 2020). Participants could decide on the interview method, and
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