Challenges and opportunities in using digital health technologies for decision-making in prehospital non-emergency situations in Norway: a qualitative study

Background Norway has a well-established emergency care system and prehospital infrastructure. However, an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases create a growing need to explore how digital health technologies may support decision-making in prehospital non-emergency situations. While technologies such as telehealth, remote monitoring, wearables, portable medical devices, communication platforms, and Artificial Intelligence-based decision-support systems have shown promise for supporting prehospital decision-making, their implementation in Norway remains limited. This study explored Norwegian paramedics’ perceptions of the challenges and opportunities of using digital health technologies to support decision-making in prehospital non-emergency situations. Methods An exploratory qualitative interview study was conducted to investigate paramedics’ experiences and perceptions of digital health technology use in decision-making during prehospital non-emergency situations in Norway. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews with paramedics involved in Norwegian ambulance care. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. NVivo 15 and Microsoft Excel were used to support data organization and analysis. Results Four themes captured challenges and opportunities of digital health technologies in prehospital non-emergency situations: digital support for call assessment and ambulance resource allocation; digital patient information for shared situational awareness; digital communication for interprofessional consultation and care coordination; and digital diagnostics for conveyance and non-conveyance decisions. Participants reported fragmented information systems, restricted access to patient records, limitations in communication technologies, and insufficient diagnostic support. They identified opportunities involving video-supported assessment, interoperable patient information, real-time clinical data sharing, multiparty consultation, and point-of-care diagnostics. However, the perceived value of these technologies depended on their reliability, usability, and integration with professional roles and healthcare services. Conclusions Digital health technologies were perceived as having the potential to support decision-making in prehospital non-emergency situations by reducing uncertainty and supporting appropriate care pathways. Their perceived value depended on reliable information, interoperability, usable communication, diagnostic support, and clear cross-service responsibilities. Digital transformation should therefore prioritise integrated, context-sensitive systems that augment paramedics’ professional judgement and may enable timely, coordinated, and patient-centred care while remaining responsive to evolving clinical needs and care environments.