The Use of Situational Judgement Tests for Paramedic Selection in Canada: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

Background It is important for paramedics to have strong interpersonal and cognitive skills. Despite the importance of such skills, the paramedic field has incorporated few tools to evaluate these attributes. Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs) are psychometric tools that use scenario-based questions to quantify personal and cognitive attributes. Though extensive literature exists on the use of SJTs, few studies explore the current state of SJT use in the paramedic field. Methods In this national survey study, we aimed to understand the current use of SJTs and other tools in the hiring of frontline paramedics by Canadian paramedic services. The survey also included questions about the use of Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), which are station-based interviews that have been found to validly evaluate the interpersonal and cognitive skills of paramedics for the purpose of hiring decisions. Results A total of 21 services left unique, complete responses. Neither SJTs nor MMIs are widely used in Canada. Only smaller paramedic services reported that they were using SJTs and MMIs, despite these tools being designed for mass testing. Conclusions Though a role has been identified for SJTs in paramedic selection and education, paramedic services in Canada do not appear to widely use SJTs to inform their hiring processes.