Objective: The purpose was to describe (a) individuals’ reasons for participating in cognitive screening and (b) reasons to pursue testing after screening across 4 ethnic groups: African American, Afro-Caribbean, European American, and Hispanic American. Methods: Prior to memory screening, 119 adults were interviewed regarding their thoughts about memory screening and follow-up testing. Interviews were coded and differences between ethnic groups were compared. Results: More African Americans and European Americans were concerned about their memory. More Hispanic Americans planned to seek professional help if needed. Hispanic Americans were most optimistic about treatment. Conclusions: Future research is needed to better understand cultural factors that influence older adults’ willingness to be screened for cognitive impairment and to pursue follow-up testing when recommended.
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