Model Resuscitation Leadership Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Residents: Modified Delphi Study

TL;DR

This study creates a resuscitation leadership curriculum for emergency medicine residents using expert consensus.

Contribution

The first expert-derived curriculum for resuscitation leadership training in emergency medicine residency programs.

Findings

Consensus was achieved on 28 learning objectives and 13 educational strategies.

The curriculum integrates cognitive, procedural, and non-technical skills for resuscitation leadership.

The framework offers structured, longitudinal training adaptable to residency programs.

Abstract

Effective resuscitation leadership is essential for emergency physicians, yet formal training in this domain remains limited within emergency medicine (EM) residency programs. Generic healthcare teamwork frameworks do not fully address the unique demands of EM resuscitations, including diagnostic uncertainty, time pressure, and frequent interruptions. Without consensus on the key competencies or instructional strategies needed to teach these EM-specific resuscitation leadership skills, residency programs lack clear curricular guidance. We aimed to achieve expert consensus on the learning objectives and educational strategies for a longitudinal model resuscitation leadership curriculum for EM residents using a modified Delphi approach.

We conducted a three-round modified Delphi study from September 2024–March 2025. Panelists were selected based on expertise in resuscitation leadership education and scholarship. We conducted a PubMed literature review that identified 19 references encompassing 244 skills and synthesized them into 31 initial learning objectives. By consensus, 12 educational strategies were identified. Panelists rated the importance of proposed learning objectives and educational strategies derived from a review of the literature and existing assessments. Additional items were added and refined across rounds based on panelist feedback. Consensus thresholds were predefined as > 75% agreement for inclusion (rated as important/very important or agree/strongly agree).

Twelve experts participated in the study, representing diverse institutions and training backgrounds. By Round 3, consensus was achieved for 28 learning objectives and 13 educational strategies. Items were thematically categorized, and supplemental resources were developed to guide curricular implementation. The final curriculum integrates cognitive, procedural, and non-technical competencies contextualized within resuscitation environments and sequenced to support longitudinal skill development.

This study presents the first expert consensus-derived resuscitation leadership curriculum for EM residents. The resulting framework provides EM residency programs with adaptable, evidence-informed guidance to support structured, longitudinal resuscitation leadership training and improved resuscitation team performance.

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