Debrief practices include four elements [1]:
You might use these questions as a structure when conducting debriefs, [2]. After an ‘event’ (e.g., an interaction with a patient/client), ask learners:
Debriefing events have a positive effect on healthcare performance ➕➕➕➕➕ [1, 2]. The effects of debriefing seem to be more effective:
Two high-quality meta-analyses support this evidence summary. One meta-analysis [1] included 31 studies from across multiple settings (not just health) and reported a limited risk of publication bias. This paper included primary studies of varying quality (both randomised and non-randomised control trials) and reported a high heterogeneity score, resulting in a modest rating of overall quality ➕➕➕. The second meta-analysis [2] included 61 primary studies that employed various designs (e.g., quasi-experimental, pre-post design) from a variety of contexts, including healthcare. No analysis of heterogeniety was conducted and publication bias analyses were mixed. As such, the quality of this meta-analysis is on the lower side ➕➕.