TITLE:
What Physicians Know about Statistics in Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Hella O. Alothman, Emad Masuadi, Tariq Alothman, Samiah Almehmadi, Mohammed H. Alenazi, Raghad Alothman, Mazen S. Ferwana
KEYWORDS:
Statistics, Calculation, Physicians, Saudi Arabia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
17,
2020
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Statistics is a science that deals with collecting, managing,
summarizing, and presenting data. An adequate understanding will help in
making decisions [1]. Physicians
were found to have limited knowledge of statistics. Objective: To assess
the knowledge, familiarity, and competency of statistical concepts among
physicians. Methods: It’s a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A convenient sample of 440 physicians was identified and contacted through a
digital survey. A questionnaire was used to obtain statistical familiarity and
competency among physicians. Results: This study found that more than
half of the participants were interested in research with at least one publication. More than half learned
statistics in undergraduate and postgraduate years. Physicians were found to have limited competency toward statistical
concepts. Conclusion: Physicians were found to have sufficient information
about the basic principles of statistics which are commonly used in medical
research articles. Steps should be taken to educate trainees by conducting
revisions, and statistical courses.