6 Tips for Simulation Debriefing in Medical Education

Review the scenario and the learning objectives ahead of time.  This will help you stay focused and ensure that the salient points of the scenario are discussed.

Having a debriefing structure or framework will help you get organized; it will also help you become more comfortable and organic in your debriefing.  Additionally, the structure will help learners process the information.

Adult learners don’t like to be talked to, and the purpose of debriefing is not to lecture the learners.  The debriefing is a time for the instructor or facilitator to explore the learners thoughts and processes.  If you find yourself talking for long periods during your debriefing, pull back and ask an open-ended question to the learners.  You want to encourage learners’ self reflection, critical thinking, and schema formation.

The beautiful thing about medical simulation is that it is active learning…why shouldn’t the debriefing be active as well.  Often times debriefing sessions can have 4 or more learners, and it is very easy for one learner to dominate the conversation.  As a facilitator, work the room, go to learners that seem less engaged or haven’t participated.

Wrap up the debriefing session in a bow….provide a summary.  You’ll want to summarize the case and connect the teaching points to the learning objectives.  At the end of the debriefing that learner should be able to identify all the major learning points.  Finally, go around the room and ask for “take aways” from the learners.  This will let the learners know you are wrapping up the session and helps the learner connect the material to how they they practice.