Development of an Instrument to Explore the Level of Knowledge and Perceptions of Family Physicians Regarding Personalized Medicine
Keywords:
questionnaire, Personalized Medicine, family doctorsAbstract
Personalized medicine in primary health care is being implemented slowly and faces multiple barriers. In this context, it is important to understand family physicians’ level of knowledge, perceptions, and training needs in this field. The aim of the study was the development and primary validation of a questionnaire to explore family physicians’ level of knowledge and perceptions regarding personalized medicine. The questionnaire was developed in accordance with COSMIN principles, based OR including on a review of the scientific literature and the definition of thematic components. The items were generated based on the scientific literature and the defined conceptual framework. Content validation included consultation with experts, and pretesting with family physicians allowed adjustment to the clarity and relevance of the questions. The final version of the questionnaire contains 48 items organized into thematic components: level of knowledge and familiarity, understanding of the foundations of personalized medicine, acceptance and perceived value, barriers and determinants of implementation, professional role and educational needs, and sociodemographic data. The items include single-choice, multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and true/ false questions, with open-ended options where necessary. The exploratory nature and coverage of multiple areas of interest make the questionnaire suitable for establishing a baseline regarding personalized medicine. The instrument enables identification of barriers and facilitating factors for the adoption of personalized medicine and may support the development of education programs tailored to family physicians’ needs and implementation strategies appropriate to the local context.
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