Table 3 Overview of themes related to the sub-analysis focused on modifying risk through lifestyle and preventive medicines

Modifying risk through lifestyle intervention

 • Positive view of lifestyle changes and/or continuing to engage with healthy living to reduce risk of developing RA

 • Healthy eating, diet and exercise as examples of life style changes

 • Being overweight considered a risk factor

 • Knowing risk is useful as it allows you to make life style changes as a preventive measure

 • Need for more information about effectiveness in order to make a decision about lifestyle changes

 • Perceived negative consequences of making life style changes

 • Unwilling to make lifestyle changes including smoking cessation, unless it is clear that there will be a significant reduction in risk

Willingness to take preventive medicines to modify risk

 • Uncertainty and worry about potential short term and long term side effects

 • Perceived need to consider pros and cons carefully

 • Weighing perceived uncertainty of developing RA against perceived certainty of side effects

 • Level of likelihood of getting RA affects consideration of preventive medicine

 • Negative opinion about taking medicines in general

 • Preference for making lifestyle changes over taking preventive medication

 • Recognition why medication might be used

 • Preference for starting medication only when first symptoms appear

 • Screening will put at risk individuals on alert for early symptoms

 • Perceived effectiveness of intervention (medication or lifestyle changes) makes a significant impact on acceptability