Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding biostatistics among resident doctors in a tertiary teaching hospital of Odisha: a cross-sectional survey.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/aphggq72Cuvinte cheie:
Biostatistics, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Postgraduate Medical Education, Resident Doctors, Medical ResearchRezumat
Background:
Biostatistics is fundamental to evidence-based medicine, critical appraisal, research design, data analysis, and interpretation of scientific literature. However, postgraduate medical trainees may have inadequate practical competence despite recognizing its importance. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding biostatistics among resident doctors at a tertiary teaching hospital in Odisha.
Methods:
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among postgraduate resident doctors at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha, from October 2025 to January 2026. A structured, investigator-designed questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and academic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding biostatistics. Knowledge was assessed using six multiple-choice questions with a maximum score of 30, while attitude was assessed using six Likert-scale statements. Practice-related questions permitted multiple responses. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages, and associations of knowledge and attitude categories with participant characteristics were assessed using appropriate categorical tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Seventy-four resident doctors participated. Knowledge varied across domains, with correct responses ranging from 32.4% to 79.7%. Most participants (67.6%) demonstrated a moderate attitude toward biostatistics, while 28.4% had a positive attitude and 4.1% a negative attitude. All participants agreed that residents should receive biostatistics training, although 59.5% considered their existing training inadequate. Microsoft Excel (66.2%) and SPSS (55.4%) were the most commonly used software. Previous literature (85.1%) was the predominant basis for sample-size calculation, while convenience sampling (52.7%) was commonly reported. No statistically significant associations were observed between knowledge or attitude categories and the examined sociodemographic, academic, or biostatistics-training characteristics (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
Resident doctors showed gaps in biostatistical knowledge despite favourable attitudes, highlighting the need for structured, practical biostatistics training during postgraduate education.
Recommendation:
Structured, longitudinal, competency-based biostatistics training with hands-on application to clinical research should be integrated into postgraduate medical education to improve statistical literacy and independent research competency.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Srikanta Panigrahy, Dr Adyasha Anindita Panda, Dr Suvendu Kumar Panda, Dr Jayanti Prava Behera
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