Debriefing Experience Scale: Not Lost During Translation

Abstract :

Background: Simulation-based education (SBE) is being used worldwide in nursing education, and supporting SBE across countries is recommended. Debriefing is considered a key element in SBE where the bulk of learning takes place. Evaluation of debriefing quality is a crucial part of the debriefing process.
Framework: The Debriefing Experience Scale (DES) is a tool evaluating the participant experience during debriefing, and is one of a handful of tools available for debriefing evaluation. It was developed through literature and peer review and a two-step factor analysis process.

Method: The DES author shared the English version of the tool for translation at the request of researchers in the countries of Norway, Portugal, China, Spain, and Turkey. These researchers translated and validated the scale using like processes as the original author, such as peer review and factor analysis.

Results: Researchers in all countries modified some wording in the scale to use words understandable in the target language, yet true to the intent of the original scale. Factor analysis in most cases identified different item groupings; however the authors of the translated scales most often kept the subscales intact with the original instrument, maintaining a reliable Chronbach’s alpha for both overall scale and subscales.

Conclusions: Authors of translated scales universally expressed that the DES was ready for use to evaluate the participant experience during debriefing. In some cases, studies using the DES have already been conducted. Translation and re-validation of already existing simulation evaluation tools is one way to share and support SBE internationally