Main Article Content

Core competencies in critical care for general medical practitioners in South Africa: A Delphi study


S.D. Maasdorp
F. Paruk
K. de Vasconcellos
C. Grion
I. Joubert
G.M. Joynt
N. Kalafatis
S.E. Lapinsky
J. Lipman
M.L.N.G. Malbrain
B. Mrara
G.A. Richards
M.G.L. Spruyt
E. van der Merwe
J.L. Vincent
L.J. van der Merwe

Abstract

Background: Despite a high burden of disease that requires critical care services, there are a limited number of intensivists in South  Africa (SA). Medical practitioners at district and regional public sector hospitals frequently manage critically ill patients in the absence of  intensivists, despite these medical practitioners having had minimal exposure to critical care during their undergraduate training.


Objectives: To identify core competencies in critical care for medical practitioners who provide critical care services at public sector  hospitals in SA where intensivists are not available to direct patient management.


Methods: A preliminary list of core competencies in critical care was compiled. Thereafter, 13 national and international experts were  requested to achieve consensus on a final list of core competencies that are required for critical care by medical practitioners, using a  modified Delphi process.


Results: A final list of 153 core competencies in critical care was identified.


Conclusion: The core competencies  identified by this study could assist in developing training programmes for medical practitioners to improve the quality of critical care  services provided at district and regional hospitals in SA. 


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-676X
print ISSN: 1562-8264