Development and Initial Psychometric Properties of a Questionnaire to Assess Competence in Palliative Care: Palliative Care Competence Framework Questionnaire:

Background:Although the provision of palliative care (PC) is fundamental to the role of the physician, little research has assessed the competence of trainee and experienced physicians in PC.Aim:To describe the development of a competence questionnaire and assess the level of competence of medical doctors in Ireland to provide PC to individuals with life-limiting conditions and their families.Design:A survey-based cohort study was employed using a questionnaire based on the Palliative Care Competence Framework, developed specifically for this study.Setting:The sample was accessed via the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. All specialties in adult medical care and direct patient contact were included.Results:A pilot study demonstrated comprehensiveness and ensured face validity. In the main study, all subscales showed internal reliability and evidence of a normal distribution. Strong correlation was noted between knowledge and behavior while moderate correlations were noted between attitudes and behav...