CHSE Debriefing and Facilitation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which debriefing model uses the phases 'Reactions, Understanding, and Summary' (RUS)?
- Debriefing with Good Judgment
- PEARLS
- 3D Model (Correct answer)
- GAS Model
Correct answer: 3D Model
The 3D Model of Debriefing organizes discussion into Reactions, Understanding, and Summary phases.
Question 2: During a simulation debrief, a facilitator notices a participant becoming visibly upset. The BEST immediate response is to:
- Continue the debrief to maintain momentum
- Acknowledge the emotion and pause the discussion (Correct answer)
- Ask other participants to explain what the upset person did wrong
- Skip to the summary phase immediately
Correct answer: Acknowledge the emotion and pause the discussion
Acknowledging emotions and pausing preserves psychological safety and allows the participant to regroup.
Question 3: The concept of 'basic assumption' in simulation debriefing, as described by the Center for Medical Simulation, refers to the belief that:
- All learners enter simulation with equal baseline knowledge
- Participants act with good intentions and are doing their best given their knowledge (Correct answer)
- Facilitators must assume errors are due to lack of effort
- Simulation scenarios should always mirror real clinical cases exactly
Correct answer: Participants act with good intentions and are doing their best given their knowledge
The basic assumption holds that participants are intelligent professionals doing their best, which frames debriefing in a non-judgmental way.
Question 4: A facilitator using the 'advocacy-inquiry' technique would MOST likely say:
- 'You made an error — what were you thinking?'
- 'I noticed you delayed calling for help. I'm curious what was going through your mind at that point.' (Correct answer)
- 'Let's move on and discuss what everyone else did correctly.'
- 'The correct action was to call for help immediately — did you know that?'
Correct answer: 'I noticed you delayed calling for help. I'm curious what was going through your mind at that point.'
Advocacy-inquiry pairs an observation (advocacy) with an open, curious question (inquiry) to explore the learner's reasoning non-judgmentally.
Question 5: In the PEARLS debriefing framework, the 'L' stands for:
- Learning objectives
- Learner reflection
- Learning transfer (Correct answer)
- Longitudinal assessment
Correct answer: Learning transfer
In PEARLS, 'L' stands for Learning and transfer, focusing on how lessons apply to real clinical practice.
Question 6: Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of the 'reactions' phase at the start of a debrief?
- To correct clinical errors before learners forget them
- To allow facilitators to set expectations for performance
- To provide an emotional release and transition learners from doing to reflecting (Correct answer)
- To review the learning objectives with the group
Correct answer: To provide an emotional release and transition learners from doing to reflecting
The reactions phase allows participants to decompress emotionally, which is necessary before productive analytical reflection can occur.
Question 7: A simulation educator conducting a post-scenario debrief notices that participants are dominating the discussion with excuses rather than reflection. The BEST facilitation strategy is to:
- Tell participants their excuses are not productive
- Use a plus-delta chart to redirect focus to observable behaviors (Correct answer)
- End the debrief early to avoid conflict
- Provide direct feedback on all clinical errors to refocus the group
Correct answer: Use a plus-delta chart to redirect focus to observable behaviors
A plus-delta chart redirects discussion to specific behaviors and improvements, shifting away from defensive excuses.
CHSE Debriefing and Facilitation 2
Which debriefing model uses the phases 'Reactions, Understanding, and Summary' (RUS)?