RESUMO
Introduction: The absence of local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) educational programs in Bahrain has given rise to an EMS workforce comprised predominantly of expatriate personnel with varying educational backgrounds that require further training before being licensed as EMS providers in Bahrain. Methods: A qualitative variance analysis was performed comparing desired core competencies for EMS practice in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, used as a comparator for Bahrain, with core competencies extracted from national curricula of the major countries from which expatriate providers originate. Results: Major core competencies not covered by the expatriate providers' curricula were identified as follows: working in an autonomous environment, requiring different critical thinking and decision-making skills, assessment and treatment during transportation, disaster response, EMS knowledge base, and coping with the different stressors of the prehospital environment. Conclusion: These results can form the basis for additional customized training programs for expatriate EMS providers working in Bahrain, with the goal of improving and standardizing EMS care in the country.