Investigating the efficacy of group debriefing in healthcare staff

A study looking at the effectiveness of group debriefing for healthcare staff following a critical event.

What is the study about?
This study will explore the effectiveness of group debriefing for healthcare staff following a critical event at work.

What is involved?
Taking part in this study involves completing a brief online survey at five time points over three months. The questionnaires are accessible through Microsoft Forms and should take roughly 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the study, you will be invited to attend a follow-up semi-structured interview with the lead researcher, Chrissie Lane, a trainee clinical psychologist either online via Microsoft Teams or in person at a Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust or University of Leeds site. This will involve an informal discussion about your experience of the debrief itself and explore whether you believe changes (positive, negative or a lack of change) are related to the debriefing intervention or wider factors in your life. The research team recognise how important and valuable your time is as busy NHS staff, therefore upon successful completion of the measures at each of the 5 time points, a £10 voucher will be provided, and a £20 voucher will be provided for completion of the follow-up semi-structured interview.

Who can take part?
Staff who have been involved in or witnessed a critical event at work will be invited to take part. A range of healthcare professions will be eligible to take part e.g. medics, nurses, physiotherapists, therapy staff, administrative staff or whoever is involved in the event. A critical event in this study is defined as an unexpected or sudden event out of the range of routine professional experience, such as events which involve a threatened or actual threat to life and can include elements of physical and/or emotional loss.

How can people get involved?
Staff who have been involved in a critical incident will receive an invitation from the debriefing lead in LYPFT. Taking part in the study is entirely voluntary. You can contact Chrissie Lane, at umcla@leeds.ac.uk or the primary research supervisor, Rebecca Yeates, at r.yeates@leeds.ac.uk if you have any questions or would like to talk through any aspect of the study.