Core competencies in neurocritical care training in China: consensus developed by a national Delphi consensus survey combined with nominal group technique

OBJECTIVES: To define the core competencies essential for specialist training in neurocritical care in China. DESIGN: Modified Delphi method and nominal group (NG) technique. SETTING: National. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1094 respondents from 33 provinces in China participated in the online survey. A NG of 11 members was organised by the Neuro-Critical Care Committee affiliated with the Chinese Association of Critical Care Physicians and the National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Neurological Diseases. RESULTS: 1094 respondents from 33 provinces in China participated in the online survey. A formal list containing 329 statements was generated for the rating by a NG. After five rounds of NG meetings and one round of comments and iterative review, 198 core competencies (54 on neurological diseases, 64 on general medical diseases, 42 on monitoring of practical procedures, 20 on professionalism and system management, five on ethical and legal aspects, three on the principles of research and certification and 10 on scoring systems) formed the final list. CONCLUSION: By using consensus techniques, we have developed a list of core competencies for neurocritical care training, which may serve as a reference for future specialist training programmes in China.