Development and validation of the Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS)

Prior to this study, there were no psychometrically evaluated scales with which to assess knowledge of palliative care. Our study developed the PaCKS, which is valid for assessing knowledge about palliative services in the general population. With the successful development of this instrument, new research exploring how knowledge about palliative care influences access and utilization of the service is possible. Prior research in palliative care access and utilization has not assessed knowledge of palliative care, though many studies have suggested that knowledge deficits contribute to underutilization of these services. Creating a scale that measures knowledge about palliative care is a critical first step toward understanding and combating potential barriers to access and utilization of this life-improving service.