Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Debriefing in Prehospital Emergency Service

Background/Objectives: Debriefing is a key component of clinical simulation that promotes reflective practice and experiential learning, with demonstrated benefits for patient safety and professional performance. However, its structured implementation in out-of-hospital emergency services remains limited and insufficiently standardized. This study aimed to explore the level of knowledge, training exposure, perceived usefulness, and implementation of debriefing among healthcare professionals in a prehospital emergency service. Methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working in the 061-emergency service of the Murcian Health System (Spain). An anonymous and self-administered questionnaire was distributed (n = 1278), including sociodemographic variables, simulation training exposure, knowledge and perceived usefulness of debriefing. The validated Spanish version of the DASH instrument and a Spanish-translated version of the OSAD instrument was used for exploratory assessment purposes. Results: A total of 49 professionals participated (response rate: 3.8%). Overall, 85.7% of participants were familiar with debriefing, and 65.3% rated it as highly useful. However, 55.1% reported no simulation-based training within the service in the previous year. A statistically significant association was found between professional category and perceived usefulness of debriefing (p < 0.001), with EMTs reporting lower perceived usefulness compared to physicians and nurses. Despite this, when debriefing was conducted, it was generally rated as high-quality, particularly in terms of psychological safety and reflective engagement. The lowest scores were observed in the domain of application to clinical practice. Key barriers included lack of time (72%), insufficient trained facilitators (60%), and limited educational resources (50%). Conclusions: A substantial gap exists between theoretical awareness and the practical implementation of structured debriefing in prehospital emergency settings. While debriefing is positively perceived and effectively delivered when applied, organisational barriers and profession-specific differences hinder its routine use. Targeted strategies, including facilitator training, dedicated resources, and tailored approaches for different professional groups, are needed to enhance its integration into clinical practice.