Knowledge and use of biostatistics among resident and junior doctors at the university of port harcourt teaching hospital, Port Harcourt

Background: The place of research in the generation of facts and evidence on which contemporary medicine can be based cannot be overemphasized. Medical and surgical research is now more crucial than ever before for advancement of clinical practice and career progression for medical professionals. This requires good understanding and application of biostatistics among clinicians. Aim: To assess the knowledge and use of biostatistics among resident doctors at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. Subjects and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study carried out in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Completed questionnaires were retrieved immediately after completion. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, cleaned, and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: There were a total of 109 respondents. Sixty-nine (63.3%) respondents were included in the study. Fifty-five (79.7%) respondents indicated that they understood the basic concepts of biostatistics, and only 16 (23.2%) respondents can apply their knowledge practically in research. Conclusion: The level of appreciation and use of biostatistics among resident doctors in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital is inadequate. This may be a reflection of the situation with resident doctors in other institutions in the country. There is a need for a curriculum review both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to prepare medical professionals for the task of high-quality research and advancement of knowledge

Implementation and outcome evaluation of the medical education partnership initiative biostatistical reasoning workshops for faculty and postgraduate students at the university of kwazulu-natal; durban; south africa

Background. There is a shortage of biostatistics expertise at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); Durban; South Africa and in the African region. This constrains the ability to carry out high-quality health research in the region.Objectives. To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate a programme designed to improve the conceptual and critical understanding of bio statistical concepts of UKZN health researchers.Methods. A 40-hour workshop in biostatistical reasoning was conducted annually between 2012 and 2015. The workshops were structured around interpretation and critical assessment of nine articles from the medical literature; with a mix of in-class sessions and small group discussions. Quantitative evaluation of the knowledge gained from the workshops was carried out using a pre- and post-workshop quiz; and qualitative evaluation of the workshop process was done using a mid-workshop questionnaire and focus group discussions.Results. For each year that the workshop was conducted; post-workshop quiz scores were significantly higher than pre-workshop scores. When quiz assessments from all 4 years of training were combined; the pretest median score was 55% (interquartile range (IQR) 40 - 62%) and the post-test median score was 68% (IQR 62 - 76%); with p0.0001 for the overall comparison of pre- v. post-scores. There was a general consensus among participants that the workshop improved their reasoning skills in biostatistics. Participants also recognised the value of the workshop in building biostatical capacity at UKZN. Conclusion. The workshops were well received and improved the critical and conceptual understanding of the participants. This education mode offers the opportunity for health researchers to advance their knowledge in settings where there are few professional biostatistician collaborators