Maud Hevink

2 | 21 Data synthesis A thematic synthesis of the included studies was performed (36, 37). Thereto, ATLAS.ti version 8.4. was used to analyze the results sections of each paper. IL and MH independently performed line-by-line coding, conceptualized the data, and identified concepts. This process was deductively led by the conceptual definition of preferences (32) and completed with the addition of inductive codes. Using this theoretical framework allowed us to integrate single study results on an overarching level. Together, the researchers grouped concepts into themes and subthemes. Conceptual links between the themes were identified and visually displayed in Figure 2 (IL and MH). In several group sessions, researchers (IL, MH, CW, MP) discussed identified concepts, themes, and conceptual links to finalize the analyses. Results Nine papers met the inclusion criteria (Figure 1), seven qualitative studies and two mixed-methods studies (see Table 2 for their characteristics). Most papers were from the UK (N=3), followed by the Netherlands (N=2), Canada (N=2), Singapore (N=1), and Germany (N=1). Study populations consisted of PwMCs and SOs. The sample of PwMCs consisted of people that chose to pursue a diagnostic trajectory for their memory complaints as well as people who chose not to do so. They either visited their GP (38, 39) or a memory clinic (38, 40-44). In two studies (45, 46) it was unclear where the diagnostic trajectory had taken place. In all papers, participants were asked to retrospectively reflect on their decision-making process to start a diagnostic trajectory for dementia.

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