Within-team debriefing vs. instructor-led debriefing for simulation-based education

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of interprofessional within-team debriefing versus instructor-led debriefing on team performance during simulated crisis scenarios. Conducted with 120 subjects organized into 40 operating room teams, the research involved a pretest simulation of a crisis, followed by either a self-led review of the video by the team (within-team debriefing) or a guided debriefing by a trained instructor (instructor-led debriefing). After the debriefing, teams managed a different crisis scenario, and their performance was assessed using the validated Team Emergency Assessment Measure scale.

Results indicated a significant improvement in team performance from pretest to posttest for both debriefing types, with no significant difference in the degree of improvement between the two methods. The findings suggest that within-team debriefing can be as effective as traditional instructor-led debriefing, potentially offering a more feasible and resource-efficient alternative for enhancing team performance in crisis management training.