Attitudes to testing for vCJD in haemophilia and Von Willibrand disease

People with bleeding disorders are considered at increased risk of vCJD. An in vivo test for vCJD is being validated and we were asked by the Haemophilia Society to explore what factors determined people’s intentions to go for testing (or not) were this test to be made available. We found that higher levels of self-efficacy and the anticipation of regret (over not being tested) predicted a greater intention to be tested. This information can be used to tailor interventions to help people decide whether testing is right for them as and when a validated test is made available.