Application of biostatistics in research by teaching faculty and final-year postgraduate students in colleges of modern medicine: A cross-sectional study

CONTEXT: Biostatistics is well recognized as an essential tool in medical research, clinical decision making, and health management. Deficient basic biostatistical knowledge adversely affects research quality. Surveys on this issue are uncommon in the literature. AIMS: To study the use of biostatistics in research by teaching faculty and postgraduate students from colleges of modern medicine. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in colleges of modern medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pretested proforma was used to collect information about the use of biostatistics by teaching faculty and final-year postgraduate students from colleges of modern medicine. The study period was 6 months. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and multivariate analysis were used for analysis of data. RESULTS: With this questionnaire, the maximum possible score for appropriate use of biostatistics in research was 20. The range of scores obtained by the study subjects was 1–20 and the median was 11. Appropriate use of biostatistics was independent of sex, designation, and education (P>.05). Spearman coefficient showed low—but significant—correlation between the score and the number of papers presented and published (P=.002 and P=.000, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that nearly half of the respondents were not using statistics appropriately in their research. There was also lack of awareness about the need for applying statistical methods from the stage of planning itself.