Consensus on Nontechnical Skills for Japanese Paramedics: A Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Emergency medicine
• Healthcare professional development
• Human factors in healthcare

Background:

• Nontechnical skills (NTS) are crucial for safe and effective emergency care performance.
• International studies have identified core NTS for paramedics, but system-specific priorities vary.
• Japanese paramedic NTS priorities have not been previously defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish expert consensus on the most important NTS for paramedics within the Japanese prehospital context.
• To identify NTS priorities that align international standards with local needs.
• To inform paramedic education and professional development in Japan.

Main Methods:

• A modified e-Delphi study was employed to gather expert opinions.
• Thirty-nine NTS were ranked by experts.
• Consensus was defined by rank-agreement criteria.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on 36 out of 39 ranked NTS.
• The top five prioritized NTS were teamwork, communication, interpersonal skills, situational awareness, and professionalism.
• Cultural safety, assertiveness, and freshness did not meet rank-agreement criteria.

Conclusions:

• A consensus-based prioritized list of NTS for Japanese paramedics was developed.
• This list integrates internationally recognized core skills with the Japanese prehospital context.
• The findings provide a framework for improving paramedic education, assessment, and patient safety in Japan.