Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aims to develop and validate a psychometric tool-the Climate Change Perceptions Scale for Health and Related Professionals and Students (CCPS-HARPS)-to assess the perceptions of health professionals and students regarding climate change and its impacts on health, and to evaluate its reliability and validity. METHODS: A sequential exploratory mixed-method approach was utilized for the development and validation of CCPS-HARPS. The process included an extensive literature review, expert consultations, and iterative feedback. The initial scale, comprising 37 items, was reduced to 30 items after qualitative analysis. Content validity was assessed using the Lawshe technique, and the final version included 29 items. The scale was pilot-tested among health students at İzmir Democracy University. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed to evaluate construct validity, and internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. RESULTS: The sample included 304 valid responses. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure was 0.937, and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity confirmed the data's suitability for factor analysis. EFA revealed a three-factor structure (Awareness and Consciousness, Experiences and Effects, and Health and Climate Change) that explained 50.96 % of the total variance. CFA supported the three-factor model with excellent fit indices (RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.054, CFI = 0.995). Internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega values exceeding 0.90 for the total scale. CONCLUSION: The CCPS-HARPS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing climate change perceptions among health professionals and students. It addresses the gap in tools tailored for healthcare-related fields and can inform educational strategies to enhance climate change preparedness. Further studies are recommended to explore its applicability across different cultural and educational settings.