Application of a Behavioral Theory to Identify Determinants of Sickle Cell Trait Screening

Background: Current guidelines recommend that African Americans know their sickle cell trait status to enhance health decision-making. In order to develop interventions that increase such as sickle cell trait screening, among high-risk populations, it would be beneficial to apply a behavioral theory to identify determinants of this behavior. This study applies the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to identify determinants of intention to go to your doctor to ask for sickle cell trait screening.

Methods/Study Population: African Americans (N=300), within middle reproductive ages 18-35, from three Indiana cities completed an online survey assessing theory-based. A three-step sequential ordinary least squares regression analysis identified determinants of intention. Pearson correlation analysis identified demographic factors and knowledge/fear beliefs included in the first and second steps of the sequential regression analysis.

Objectives/Goals: 1)Describe a quantitative approach to identifying factors influencing to screening for sickle cell trait.2)To identify attitudes, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control toward screening for sickle cell trait.3)To describe a theory-based approach to determine how to prioritize strategies to increase preventive screening among African Americans.

Results/Anticipated Results: Adding the three RAA constructs (attitude, perceived norm, and perceived behavioral control), significantly increased the adjusted R2 from .069 to .639 (F=34.136, df, 16, 283 p<.001) over the model with four demographic factors and three knowledge/fear beliefs. Perceived behavioral control had the highest relative weight (_ =.579, p<.001). Attitude and perceived norm had significant weights (_ =.354 and _ =.177, p<.001, respectively).