gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: The aim of this project was to explore how physicians and dentists in Germany evaluate biostatistics in general and their education in this subject. Furthermore, the importance of the subject for the professional practice of physicians and dentists was determined and insights for teaching during and after medical school were gained.

Method: A total of 2700 physicians and dentists from Schleswig-Holstein were invited by mail to participate in an online survey and to provide sociodemographic data and information on their perception towards the subject of biostatistics in general, in relation to work and to teaching. Data were analyzed with descriptive methods.

Results: Response rate was 14%. 50% of participants received biostatistical training in medical school. 43% and 39% of participants reported that biostatistics was useful at study time and for their later career, respectively. Biostatistics was rated as difficult by 59%.

93% stated biostatistics being a necessary skill for a clinician involved in research, and 94% rated it as important for evidence-based medicine. 81% agreed that evidence-based medicine is important for clinical practice. Biostatistics was indicated as useful in their own work for evaluating marketing materials from pharmaceutical industry (89%), interpreting screening tests (88%), reading research publications for general professional interest (85%), using research publications to consider new therapeutic options (86%), in analyzing data from one's own research (92%), but only for 30% in clinical contact with patients.

20% rated the teaching in biostatistics from their own studies as still useful today. 65% would like to understand more about the subject while 86.96% received no further training after graduation. 53% of participants said they could do better if they understood more about biostatistics.

Discussion: Our study indicates that the majority of human and dental physicians in Schleswig-Holstein consider biostatistics to be difficult. However, they recognize the value of the subject for evidence-based medicine and research. More than 90%, or nearly one-third, expressed that biostatistics was a necessary skill for clinician scientists or practicing physicians, respectively. Biostatistics was indicated as helpful for a surprisingly large number of physician tasks, so that 13% got training in biostatistics even after graduation.

A large proportion of participants expressed dissatisfaction with biostatistics teaching from undergraduate days. Only one-fifth rated biostatistics teaching from those days as still useful today. Many reported uncertainty about their own biostatistics skills.

Conclusion: The results of this survey show that biostatistics is considered relevant in many areas of physician practice, but that many of the practitioners do not consider themselves well prepared and would like to understand more about biostatistics. Therefore, it seems reasonable to develop further training courses. These should focus precisely on the biostatistical concepts relevant to the medical/dental activities mentioned in the phase of early practical work. We therefore suggest to link the content within the framework of evidence-based medicine with clinically relevant medical topics, thus also increasing the motivation to learn biostatistics.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The authors declare that a positive ethics committee vote has been obtained.

This contribution has already been published: Will be partly presented at CEN2023 in Basel, too.