| 28 Theme 1: views on starting diagnostic trajectories PwMCs and SOs form a view on starting a diagnostic trajectory based on needs, beliefs on the necessity and expected outcomes of starting a diagnostic trajectory. Feeling of needing to do something. PwMCs and SOs frequently describe the feeling of ‘needing to do something’. PwMCs and SOs describe this as ‘the ability to do something for your own health’ or ‘the ability to take control of the situation’ (42, 43). ‘Mrs. Weber: I think that everyone should do something for his health or illness. No? And not simply sit it out and put the blame on other things’. (42). PwMCs specifically want to reduce uncertainty about the cause of the symptoms (38, 41, 43). Furthermore, the feeling that something is off and the hope to be reassured are motives for PwMCs and SOs to pursue a diagnostic trajectory (38). Beliefs on the necessity of a diagnostic trajectory. PwMCs and SOs held beliefs that determined their perceived necessity of starting a diagnostic trajectory. PwMCs did not perceive a diagnostic trajectory as necessary if they believed an HCP would not be able to help them, believed they did not need help, or prioritized their physical problems (39, 40, 45). ‘Things that are important to her–her corns, she has very painful corns that sometimes leads her to not being able to move, and sometimes I can’t even get an appointment at the polyclinics. And then it gets worse to walk. . . To her, these two things matter more than her mind. In her mind, she’s fine’ (39). These beliefs were often fueled by PwMCs’ fear of developing dementia (38, 40). On the contrary, PwMCs and SOs who believed a diagnosis would help them move forward psychologically or that there was no harm in finding out, pursued a diagnostic trajectory (41, 43). Expected outcomes of starting a diagnostic trajectory. SOs specifically had expectations on the benefits of a diagnosis, which resulted in pursuing a diagnostic trajectory. In five studies SOs expected to start
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