Palliative care knowledge test for nurses and physicians: validation and cross-cultural adaptation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care Research
• Health Professional Training

Background:

• Palliative care knowledge is crucial for primary healthcare providers managing end-of-life patients.
• Physicians and nurses require specialized skills for high-quality palliative care delivery.
• Educational programs are needed to enhance palliative care expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate the Palliative Care Knowledge Test (PCKT) into Spanish.
• To conduct a psychometric analysis of the Spanish version (PCKT-SV).
• To assess the utility and cultural relevance of the PCKT for Spanish-speaking populations.

Main Methods:

• The PCKT was translated and back-translated, followed by expert review and a pilot study.
• Content validity and reliability were analyzed.
• The questionnaire was validated with 561 physicians and nurses.

Main Results:

• The Spanish version (PCKT-SV) demonstrated strong internal consistency and reliability.
• The psychometric properties of the PCKT-SV were comparable to the original PCKT.
• The validation process confirmed the questionnaire's suitability for the target population.

Conclusions:

• The PCKT-SV is a valuable tool for assessing palliative care knowledge among Spanish-speaking physicians and nurses.
• This validated instrument can effectively evaluate the impact of palliative care training initiatives.
• The PCKT-SV supports the enhancement of palliative care education in Spanish-speaking healthcare settings.