The Efficacy of Pre-marital Counseling Based on Motivational Interviewing on Couples’ Knowledge, Attitude and Intention to obtain Genetic Counseling

Background & aim: Knowledge of and attitude toward genetic diseases are poor, and few at-risk couples seek genetic counseling. The current research was conducted to determine the efficacy of premarital counseling based on motivational interviewing on couples’ knowledge, attitude, and intention to obtain genetic counseling.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on ۶۹ eligible couples who attended the health centers of Mashhad, Iran, between May and July ۲۰۲۳ . The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group received premarital counseling based on motivational interviewing during three  individual sessions, each lasting ۶۰–۹۰ minutes, with one week interval. Both groups, in addition to receiving usual care, completed Knowledge questionnaire, Zaien modified attitude questionnaire , and genetic counseling intention questionnaire before and  two weeks post-counseling .  Data were analysed with Chi-square, independent t, and Mann-Whitney tests using SPSS software.Results: The changes in the mean score of pre and post intervention knowledge in the intervention and control group were ۱۰.۲۵±۹.۱۳ and ۳.۶۱±۶.۲۸, respectively, which shows a significant difference between the two groups (P<۰.۰۵). Also, the mean attitude score after the intervention was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۰۱). Additionally, after the intervention, ۷۰.۶% in the intervention group and ۴۵.۷% in the control group intended to receive genetic counseling (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The motivational interviewing improve knowledge, attitude, and intention of couples to obtain genetic counseling. Therefore, this approach can be used for genetic counseling in pre-marriage counseling.

کلیدواژه ها:

Premarital counseling ، Motivational interviewing ، Knowledge ، Attitude ، Intention ، Genetic counseling