Paramedic Competence and its Impact on Clinical Decision-Making and Patient Safety: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Paramedic competence, clinical decision-making, patient safety, prehospital care, emergency medicine, training standards.Abstract
This systematic review examines how paramedic competence influences clinical decision-making and patient safety across prehospital and emergency contexts. Competence encompasses knowledge, technical skill, situational awareness, communication, and ethical judgment—factors vital to ensuring accurate assessment and timely intervention. The review synthesizes recent evidence (2016–2025) from international databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL) to identify how competence frameworks, continuing education, and simulation-based training affect decision accuracy and patient safety outcomes. Results highlight a strong correlation between advanced paramedic competence and reduced medical errors, improved triage, and enhanced interprofessional collaboration. Furthermore, the study underscores the role of reflective practice, evidence-based guidelines, and technological integration (such as telemedicine and decision-support tools) in reinforcing decision quality. Limitations and gaps in standardized competency assessment are discussed, followed by recommendations for enhancing paramedic training models and safety culture.
