Description

The Phenylketonuria Knowledge Understanding Questionnaire (PKU-23) is a psychometric assessment tool designed to evaluate knowledge and understanding regarding phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited metabolic disorder.

The questionnaire focuses on assessing the level of awareness and understanding of essential aspects related to phenylketonuria, including disease characteristics, management, and relevant health information.

Objective

The primary objective of the PKU-23 is the assessment of individuals’ knowledge and comprehension regarding phenylketonuria.

The instrument can be used to identify knowledge gaps, evaluate educational needs, and support interventions aimed at improving understanding of PKU among relevant populations.

Structure and Content

The questionnaire was developed by Loumakis in 1989 and consists of 23 questions focusing on knowledge related to the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria.

The items assess factual knowledge about the condition and are structured using two different response formats:

Questions requiring True/False responses.

Questions requiring selection from four possible multiple-choice answers.

Scoring

The PKU-23 score is calculated by summing the number of correct responses.

Participants are categorized into three levels of knowledge according to their total score:

Insufficient knowledge.

Moderate knowledge.

Adequate knowledge.

Higher scores indicate a greater level of understanding regarding phenylketonuria.

Data Analysis and Use

The PKU-23 provides quantitative information regarding knowledge levels about phenylketonuria.

The results can be used in educational and clinical contexts to assess awareness, identify areas requiring further information, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs related to PKU management.

The questionnaire has been adapted into Greek and designed according to the method of Oppenheim (1973).

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis of PKU-23 data may include descriptive statistics, such as mean scores, standard deviations, and distribution of knowledge categories.

Reliability analysis can be performed to evaluate the internal consistency of the questionnaire.

Comparative analyses may examine differences in PKU knowledge according to demographic characteristics, educational background, or experience with the disorder.

Validity

The validity of the PKU-23 is supported by its development as a knowledge assessment instrument specifically targeting understanding of phenylketonuria.

The questionnaire was adapted for the Greek population, supporting its applicability within Greek educational and healthcare contexts.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the PKU-23 was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which demonstrated satisfactory reliability with a value of α = 0.78.

This value indicates acceptable consistency among the questionnaire items measuring knowledge and understanding of phenylketonuria.

References

Λουμάκου, Μ. (1989). Στάσεις γονέων φαινυλκετονουρικών παιδιών και η συμβολή τους στο θεραπευτικό αποτέλεσμα. Doctoral dissertation, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (ΕΚΠΑ), Σχολή Επιστημών Αγωγής, Τμήμα Παιδαγωγικό Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης.

Wang, X., Firdous, A., Xu, L., Chen, P., Liao, F., Lin, J., & Sun, J. (2019). A New Layered Silicogermanate PKU-23 and Its Transformation to a Zeolite with Three-Dimensional Channels. Crystal Growth & Design, 19(4), 2272–2278.