Debriefing styles and clinical judgment for undergraduate nursing students

The Influence of Instructor-centered Versus Learner-centered Debriefing on Clinical Judgment in Nursing Students: A Mixed-methods Experimental Study Protocol.

Not applicable Interventional Universitat Internacional de Catalunya · NCT07262424

We will test whether instructor-centered or learner-centered debriefing helps undergraduate nursing students improve their clinical judgment.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment110 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversitat Internacional de Catalunya Academic / other
Locations1 site (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona)
Trial IDNCT07262424 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The study uses a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design with an initial randomized controlled trial comparing instructor-centered (ICT) and learner-centered (LCT) debriefing after simulation sessions. Quantitative measures of clinical judgment will be collected during the RCT, with methodological fidelity checks to confirm distinct debriefing styles. After the trial, focus groups will explore students' experiences to explain and contextualize the quantitative findings. The combination of randomized allocation and qualitative follow-up aims to link measurable outcomes with learners' perceptions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Basic Simulation Labs 2 (LBS2) course who can attend all sessions, provide informed consent, and are not repeating the course.

Not a fit: Students who are not enrolled in LBS2, who are repeating the course, who cannot complete all study phases, or who decline consent are unlikely to benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, improved debriefing methods could help nursing students develop stronger clinical judgment, which may translate into safer patient care.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows learners often prefer learner-centered debriefing, but there is limited high-quality evidence directly comparing ICT and LCT for effects on clinical judgment.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

-Students enrolled in the Basic Simulation Labs 2 (LBS2) course as part of their program.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Students who cannot participate in all phases of the study.
* Students who do not provide informed consent.
* Students who are repeating the course.

Where this trial is running

Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Simulation Based LearningNursing EducationDebriefing MethodClinical JudgmentLearner-Centered TeachingInstructor-Centered TeachingMixed-Methods StudyDebriefing
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.