Commentary on: 'Cost: The missing outcome in simulation-based education research: A systematic review' by Zendejas et al

摘要

In this issue, Zendejas and coworkers review the literature concerning the costs of simulation-based medical education. They find a paucity of reported data, which they call puzzling because they believe "educators, administrators, and funding agencies want to know the cost-effectiveness" of simulation-based education. They deem their article a call to action and suggest a framework for cost analysis of simulation-based education based on Levin's work. In addition, they use their study to identify inductively the potential cost ingredients for such studies. I agree with Zendejas and colleagues; cost analysis of simulation-based education is essential. Why then have there been so few simulation-based education-cost data in the literature?