Nurses’ Willingness to Refer First Degree Relatives to Genetic Testing for Alzheimer’s Disease: Applying an Expanded Version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Using an expanded version of the Theory of Planned Behavior which incorporates the concept of Self-Efficacy (SE) as its conceptual framework, this study examined nurses’ willingness to refer first-degree relatives for Genetic Testing (GT) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A self-report structured questionnaire was completed by 120 certified nurses at two psycho-geriatric hospitals in “srael’s major metropolitan area. Overall nurses’ willingness to refer first-degree relatives to GT for AD was moderate. The elements of the theory explained 56% of nurses’ willingness. Findings of this study may help identifying areas for potential intervention, such as increasing nurses’ awareness about GT and their ability to explain the importance of GT to relatives with AD.