Dataset Information

Implementation of an educational intervention to improve medical student cost awareness: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the context of rising healthcare costs, formal education on treatment-related financial hardship is lacking in many medical schools, leaving future physicians undereducated and unprepared to engage in high-value care.

Method

We performed a prospective cohort study to characterize medical student knowledge regarding treatment-related financial hardship from 2019 to 2020 and 2020-2021, with the latter cohort receiving a targeted educational intervention to increase cost awareness. Using Kirkpatrick's four-level training evaluation model, survey data was analyzed to characterize the acceptability of the intervention and the impact of the intervention on student knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported preparedness to engage in cost-conscious care.

Results

Overall, N = 142 medical students completed the study survey; 61 (47.3%) in the non-intervention arm and 81 (66.4%) in the intervention arm. Of the 81 who completed the baseline survey in the intervention arm, 65 (80.2%) completed the immediate post-intervention survey and 39 (48.1%) completed the two-month post-intervention survey. Following the educational intervention, students reported a significantly increased understanding of common financial terms, access to cost-related resources, and level of comfort and preparedness in engaging in discussions around cost compared to their pre-intervention responses. The majority of participants (97.4%) reported that they would recommend the intervention to future students. A greater proportion of financially stressed students reported considering patient costs when making treatment decisions compared to their non-financially stressed peers.

Conclusions

Targeted educational interventions to increase cost awareness have the potential to improve both medical student knowledge and preparedness to engage in cost-conscious care. Student financial stress may impact high-value care practices. Robust curricula on high-value care, including treatment-related financial hardship, should be formalized and universal within medical school training.

SUBMITTER: Tait SD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9885673 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Implementation of an educational intervention to improve medical student cost awareness: a prospective cohort study.

Tait Sarah D SD Oshima Sachiko M SM Leeras Harold J HJ Gunn Alexander A Sarver Melissa M Gunes Funda F Greenup Rachel A RA

BMC medical education 20230130 1

<h4>Background</h4>In the context of rising healthcare costs, formal education on treatment-related financial hardship is lacking in many medical schools, leaving future physicians undereducated and unprepared to engage in high-value care.<h4>Method</h4>We performed a prospective cohort study to characterize medical student knowledge regarding treatment-related financial hardship from 2019 to 2020 and 2020-2021, with the latter cohort receiving a targeted educational intervention to increase cos ...[more]

PMID: 36717888

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Dataset Information

Implementation of an educational intervention to improve medical student cost awareness: a prospective cohort study.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Implementation of an educational intervention to improve medical student cost awareness: a prospective cohort study.

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