Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Performance Assessments: A Case Study of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Abstract

Medical education assessments are becoming more complex, resulting in the inappropriateness of traditional methods primarily consisting of direct observations, oral examinations, and multiple-choice tests. Advancements in research methods have led to the formation of new modalities, namely performance assessments, which are, on the other hand, always costly in development and implementation. Proposing using the Program Effectiveness and Cost Generalization flow within an assessment context (PRECOG-A), this brief report explores the real financial cost drivers associated with an assessment case in the context of medical education, presents the steps in bridging the effectiveness with its psychometric properties via cost-effectiveness analysis, and evaluates the two-side outcomes for further evaluation decision-making. Referentially providing a framework to investigators and researchers, the illustration of PRECOG-A in this study outlines instructional guidelines for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis in a performance assessment.