| Sumario: | Introduction: Clinical competence is the cornerstone of effective pre-hospital care. While formal standards and guidelines outline the requisite skills and knowledge, the subjective understanding of clinical competence among paramedics, and its perceptual variation among colleagues, remains less explored. This study aims to investigate the concepts that contribute to the formation of clinical competence among UK paramedics. Methods: This study will utilise a mixed-methods design. A Qualtrics questionnaire will incorporate both qualitative and quantitative responses to questions designed to explore paramedics' perceptions of clinical competence among their colleagues. This will include asking participants to name qualities, attributes and skills that form competence and then rank them in order of importance. Additionally, demographic information, such as years of experience, level of training and current employment role, will be collected. Results: Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise paramedics' perceptions of clinical competence. Qualitative analysis will be conducted on open-ended responses to identify themes and patterns in the participants' perceptions. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into how UK paramedics conceptualise clinical competence within their professional context. This understanding has implications for paramedic education, training methodologies, policy formulation, recruitment strategies and staff retention efforts. Moreover, the data gathered will provide key information on the factors that influence peer or mentor assessment of ability to perform and thrive in the role. The findings could have consequences for the training and education of future paramedics. There are also potential consequences for the resilience and well-being management of paramedics. If the results uncover a particular trend in traits and qualities that are considered to align with clinical competence, this could have both positive and negative influences on individuals who do, or do not, display such qualities and traits. Conclusions: This study will contribute to the existing literature on pre-hospital care by exploring the subjective perceptions of clinical competence among UK paramedics. By examining how paramedics evaluate their colleagues' clinical competence, this research aims to inform strategies for improving training, promoting professionalism and, ultimately, enhancing patient outcomes in pre-hospital settings.
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