Cost of failure in the context of social mission

Abstract

In the study by Foo et al. (2017) authors calculated the economic cost (referred to as cost) due to physiotherapy student failure in a pre-clinical course based on a number of supported assumptions. In this study, the calculated cost per student is 60% lower for students who pass all pre-clinical units compared to the cohort that does not. The cost is 15% higher per student when spread across the cohort. A sensitivity analysis demonstrates that as the failure rate and attrition rate rises, the cost increases. I applaud the authors for addressing this important topic and providing an approach and model that can be replicated in other contexts. If institutions repeated this analysis in different areas of the world and across different health professions, the estimated cost would change, but the conclusion would not. The economic cost of a student failing in a professional education program is high.

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The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of this article.

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Heidi Chumley

Heidi Chumley, MD, MBA, is Executive Dean of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) and is responsible for the development of a strategic vision for academic excellence and career outcomes. She also acts as the head of Adtalem Global Education’s Academic Council.