Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Anaesthesiology, Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, Raiganj, West Bengal, India
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been realized by senior researchers that interest in biostatistics is very poor
among medical professionals. Knowledge of biostatistics plays an important role in medical research.
Studies conducted about knowledge, attitude toward biostatistics by many researchers, but there were
no works about factors in relation to it. Considering this gap, we tried to develop a new instrument.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Item generation and questionnaire formation were done using focus
group discussion involving seven experts from different departments of medical colleges. Face validity
and content validity and pilot testing were carried out step by step. In estimating reliability, internal
consistency measured after collecting data from 66 study participants. Data were collected through
self‑administered paper‑based questionnaire where response in each item was in five‑point Likert
scale. Cronbach’s alpha for reliability analysis was used.
RESULTS: In first stage, item generation through FGD, then face validity was assessed by senior
faculties. Content validity was checked by Aiken’s V index. In initial stages, with six items, Cronbach’s
alpha was 0.805. Scale mean and variance were 24.24 and 27.26. After final reliability testing, it
became 0.866 with four items where scale mean and variance came to 15.85 and 16.38.
CONCLUSION: All the six items were important factors. Reliability improved when knowledge in
statistics in higher secondary level and biostatistics classes in PG course were eliminated as factors.
More qualitative research is needed for better understanding of this concept.
Keywords
biostatistics in research by teaching faculty and final‑year
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