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

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.