9 Modalities of debriefing

In healthcare simulation, various debriefing modalities are used to enhance learning and improve clinical practice. Here are some key modalities:

1. Self-reflection: this involves individuals reflecting on their own performance and experiences after a simulation. It encourages personal insight and self-assessment, helping learners identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
2. Self-debriefing: similar to self-reflection, self-debriefing involves a more structured approach where individuals use guided questions or frameworks to analyse their performance. This can be done through written reflections or recorded video reviews.
3. Facilitated debriefing: this is a structured debriefing led by a facilitator, often an experienced educator or clinician. The facilitator guides the discussion, helping participants reflect on their actions, understand the rationale behind decisions, and identify learning points. Facilitated debriefing can be done in groups or one-on-one.
4. Tele-debriefing: with advancements in technology, tele-debriefing allows for remote debriefing sessions. Participants and facilitators can connect via video conferencing tools to conduct debriefings, making it accessible even when in-person sessions are not possible.

Each modality has its own benefits and can be chosen based on the specific needs and context of the simulation. Combining different modalities can also provide a comprehensive debriefing experience. Secheresse et al (2021) found in their research that people had a greater knowledge improvement when debriefing is structured and facilitated.