Motivational Interviewing on Couples’ Attitude Toward Premarital Genetic Testing

Abstract

Background: Many genetic diseases are transmitted through the transfer of related genes from parents. The authorities in social health sector have the responsibility to plan and inform the young people on the importance of genetic test for marrying couples.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on the attitude toward premarital genetic testing in couples who refer to marriage counseling center.

Methods: This study was an educational trial conducted at a marriage counseling center. 30 couples who were not willing to undergo genetic testing entered the sampling stage. Available samples signed the consent form and were divided using random blocks of A and B (15 couples in each group). The questionnaire of attitude toward genetic testing was completed before and after the intervention. The intervention group participated in 6 sessions motivational interviewing, but no interviews were conducted with the control group. The data were analyzed using T-test and Fisher exact test in SPSS 20.

Results: The results showed the attitude toward genetic testing in intervention and control groups were 106.27 ± 6.378 and 73.03 ± 8.915, respectively, and the difference was significant (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that marrying couples' attitude toward genetic testing had been improved by MI. Therefore, this approach is recommended to be adopted in marriage counseling centers.