Debriefing is a critical phase in simulation-based education that is extremely time-consuming for the instructors. The aim of the study was to assess whether a collective debriefing was non-inferior to an individual debriefing to improve learning outcomes after a simulation session.

This randomised controlled multicentre non-inferiority study included pairs comprising one resident and one student nurse in anaesthesia. Each pair underwent two sessions of a simulated life-threatening emergency held at a 6-week interval. Six participant pairs underwent simulation sessions every half-day of training. The debriefing performed after the first session was either individual (1 debriefing by pair; individual group) or collective (1 debriefing by 6 pairs; collective group). The primary outcome was the evolution of a 34-parameter technical skill score (Delta-TSS-34) between the two simulation sessions. The non-inferiority margin was 5. The change in the Anaesthetists’ Non-Technical Skills score (Delta-ANTS), and the debriefing duration per participant pair were secondary endpoint measures.

Respectively 23 and 21 pairs were included in the collective and individual groups. Delta-TSS-34 was non-inferior in the collective group compared to the individual group (mean intergroup difference [95% confidence interval]: 2.71 [0.44–4.98]). Delta-ANTS did not significantly differ between the two groups (median [interquartile range]: 22 [10–37] versus 25 [17–35], p = 0.57; respectively in the collective and individual groups). The debriefing duration per participant pair was significantly lower in the collective group (10 [10–11] min versus 27 [25–28] min; p < 0.001).

Collective debriefing was non-inferior to individual debriefing to improve learning outcomes after simulation of medical emergencies and allows a significant reduction in the time dedicated to the debriefing.