Understanding help-seeking decisions in people with subjective cognitive decline: A systematic review of qualitative studies

To synthesize the findings of qualitative research on help-seeking in people with subjective cognitive decline.Relevant qualitative studies were identified by searching the PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Studies that investigated help-seeking behavior in older adults with subjective cognitive decline were retrieved. The systematic review was conducted in line with JBI methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence.11 studies were included and three themes related to the process of help-seeking for cognitive problems emerged. These themes included: detected changes, challenges in identifying the need for help and decision to seek professional help.Making decisions to seek help for people with subjective cognitive decline is a multi-stage process. A better understanding of the complex psychological responses to subjective cognitive decline among older adults may help health care professionals to develop strategies to improve help-seeking in clinical practice.