The health orientation scale: A measure of feelings about sickle cell trait

The Health Orientation Scale (HOS), a written self‐report instrument, was developed to objectively appraise the psychological implications of identification as a sickle cell gene carrier (AS). The HOS uses the semantic differential technique and consists, of nine situations thought to be of importance in identification as a carrier. The instrument was completed by respondents during the various phases of the screening and counseling process. Discussion will focus on a comparison of carrier and noncarrier (AA) reactions to situations which involve the diagnoses of sickle cell trait (AS), sickle cell disease (SS), cancer, and hypertension along with a comparison of feelings before and after counseling. Results suggest that noncarriers have more negative feelings about sickle cell than carriers. Further, counseling, as it is currently practiced, does not contribute to any significant differences in feelings about sickle cell for either carriers or noncarriers. The attitudes and feelings of noncarriers toward sickle cell trait and disease suggest that carrier identification is a stigma.