Development and psychometric validation of the pharmacogenetic Knowledge, attitudes, and Awareness scale (P-KAAS): an initial validation study in undergraduate nursing students

AIM: Pharmacogenetics is a key component of precision medicine, yet its integration into clinical practice remains limited. This study aimed to develop and validate the Pharmacogenetic Knowledge, Attitudes and Awareness Scale (P-KAAS) and assess nursing students' pharmacogenetic competencies. METHODS: This methodological, cross-sectional scale-development study included 312 undergraduate nursing students. Content validity was evaluated by an expert panel using the Davis technique. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and known-groups validity analyses. Internal consistency, item-total correlations, and test-retest reliability were examined. RESULTS: Students demonstrated moderate awareness and positive attitudes toward pharmacogenetics but limited detailed knowledge. EFA identified a two-factor structure explaining 60.99% of the total variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.438 to 0.725. Known-groups validity analyses demonstrated significant differences in P-KAAS scores according to academic year and prior exposure to pharmacogenetics. Cronbach's alpha was 0.929 for the total scale, 0.696 for the Knowledge subscale, and 0.938 for the Attitude and Awareness subscale. Test-retest correlations ranged from 0.87 to 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: The P-KAAS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties among undergraduate nursing students. Further validation in other healthcare professional groups is warranted before broader application.