|
| Domains | Subdomains | Items |
|
| (1) Symptom experience | Specific and nonspecific cancer alarm symptoms | Alarm symptoms covering the following areas |
| Lung, gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and urogenital cancer |
| General, frequent symptoms |
| Fever |
| Feeling unwell |
| Feeling ill |
| Loss of appetite |
| Abdominal symptom-based conditions |
Symptoms based on the consensus classification regarding dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (the Rome III criteria) |
| Symptoms forming the basis for diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (Montreal criteria) |
| Bodily distress syndrome |
Items identified to classify BDS, covering the following areas |
| Cardiopulmonary |
| Gastrointestinal |
| Musculoskeletal |
| General symptoms |
|
| (2) Symptom experience characteristics | Debut | First occurrence of the symptom experience |
| Impact on daily life | Impact of the symptom experience on daily life activities |
| Concerns | The respondents’ concerns regarding the symptom experience |
|
| (3) Reactions in response to symptom experience | Use of social network | Discussion of symptom experience with friends, acquaintances, and family |
| Contact with the GP, other therapists, hospital doctors, community nurses, physiotherapists, etc. |
| Considerations about contact with the GP |
Decisions of four barriers towards healthcare-seeking using the ABC (awareness and beliefs about cancer) |
| “It would be embarrassing for me” |
| “I would be worried about wasting the doctor's time” |
| “I would be worried about what the doctor might find” |
| “I was too busy to find time to go to the doctor” |
|
| (4) Selected factors with potential influence on the symptom experience and healthcare-seeking | Life style | Smoking |
| Alcohol consumption |
| Body mass index |
| Access to social network |
Frequency of contact in terms of telephone conversations and/or communion with others |
| Concerns for the respondent |
The GP’s and surroundings’ reaction and concern for the respondent |
| Experience with illness |
Experience with serious illness in the immediate family and close friends |
|
| (5) Personality characteristics in relation to symptom experience and healthcare-seeking | Attitude towards risk-taking | Attitude towards risk in relation to health and finances |
| Self-rated health | Respondents assessment of own health |
| Coping strategies | Respondents assessments of coping with problems using The Brief Approach/Avoidance Coping Questionnaire |
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