Assessment and predictive analysis of health professions students' proficiency in health economics and pharmacoeconomics in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC medical education Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1239 - 15
• Main Authors: Yang, Jian, Wei, Quanzhi, Yang, Xin, Jiao, Jingyi, Yang, Zaixian, Li, Fan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 31.10.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Allied Health Occupations Education; Analysis; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; China; Colleges & universities; Computer industry; Content Validity; Cost Effectiveness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curricula; Curriculum development; Data Analysis; Data collection; Decision-making; Drugstores; Economics education; Economics, Medical; Economics, Pharmaceutical; Educational aspects; Educational Methods; Educational Strategies; Elective Courses; Ethics; Evaluation; Female; Forecasts and trends; Health care delivery; Health economics; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Needs; Health Occupations; Humans; Information management; Knowledge assessment; Likert Scales; Literature Reviews; Male; Medical economics; Medical education; Medical personnel; Medical students; Pharmacoeconomics; Pharmacy; Professional Education; Professions; Questionnaires; Sample Size; School Demography; Student Evaluation; Student Surveys; Students; Students, Health Occupations - psychology; Study and teaching; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teaching Methods; Universities; Urban Demography; Validity; Young Adult; China; United States; Middle East; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Medical education; Pharmacoeconomics; Health economics; Curriculum development; Knowledge assessment
• ISSN: 1472-6920; 1472-6920
• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-06214-3

This study addresses the growing importance of health economics and pharmacoeconomics in preparing healthcare professionals for economic decision-making, particularly in China's evolving healthcare system. Despite their significance, these subjects are inconsistently included in health education in Southwest China, making it crucial to assess students' proficiency and educational needs. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2023, involving medical and pharmaceutical programs across universities in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Data on students' knowledge, attitudes, and proficiency were captured using a structured questionnaire. Advanced statistical methods, including descriptive analysis, ANOVA, regression analysis, PCA, and Spearman correlation heatmaps, were employed for data analysis using IBM SPSS and Python. The sample consisted of 781 students, with the survey facilitated via the Questionnaire Star platform. The survey revealed moderate comprehension of health economics and pharmacoeconomics among 781 health-related students, with an average knowledge score of 2.9. The majority were pharmacy students (45.58%) and aged 21-24 years (65.81%) with a significant female majority (64.92%). Academic year significantly influenced understanding, while gender differences were minimal. Spearman correlation indicated a strong linkage (0.78) between Supply and Demand and Cost Effectiveness, with minimal correlations between knowledge and attitudes towards the educational importance of health economics. Multiple regression analysis highlighted the impact of gender and academic progression on students' comprehension of Supply and Demand concepts, as well as the influence of knowledge levels on their attitudes towards the importance of health economics education. PCA indicated the complex structure of knowledge and attitudes. The study found moderate knowledge levels in health economics among health professions students in Southwest China, with academic year affecting comprehension and minimal gender differences. Pharmacy students had higher proficiency in pharmaceutical-related areas, but gaps in complex topics like 'Economic Evaluation' highlight the need for targeted educational improvements to better prepare students for healthcare economic decision-making.