An exploratory qualitative study on experienced paramedic students’ discussions during debriefs after critical care scenario training.

Abstract

This study has explored what experienced paramedic students at Oslo Metropolitan University discuss during their debriefs after peer assisted simulation training within the subject of prehospital critical care. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted, and the data were analysed utilising systematic text condensation according to Kirsti Malterud’s description. The results showed that the students included in this project discussed various topics in their debriefs. Three main themes were identified with an additional seven subgroups. The main themes were sorted under the categories subject specific content, non-technical skills, and simulation training on a meta-level. The following subgroups were named and sorted as patient assessment and medical treatment, resource possibilities outside the original team, laws and ethical considerations, communication, situation awareness, systematics in debrief and how to improve. This study has shown that experienced paramedic students discuss a broad set of subjects when facilitating debriefs for their peers after simulation training. This paper serves as a summary for the article that follows, and the two combined make up a master's thesis.