Internal structure validity of the Brazilian version of the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the internal structure validity of the Brazilian version of the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey among nursing students. METHODS: a psychometric study was conducted with 402 final-year nursing students from 17 universities. Measurement properties were tested using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory, combined with cross-validation. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega indicators. Data analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS Statistics 20.0 and Factor® software. RESULTS: the unidimensional 16-item model explained 60.76% of the variance in clinical practice and 55.25% in classroom settings. Factor loadings, communalities, and item discrimination were adequate, with stability and replicability maintained in cross-validation. CONCLUSIONS: the Brazilian version of the instrument demonstrated evidence of internal structure validity among nursing students, contributing to the identification of gaps in patient safety education.