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.

Keywords:

Statistics, Calculation, Physicians, Saudi Arabia

1. Introduction

Statistics is a science that deals with collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. On the other hand, familiarity and competency measured by the ability to acquaintance knowledge through sensory input plus the ability to practice this knowledge, are “a combination of sensory input—familiarity and output—competency” [1] [2] [3] [4].

Clinicians report a low level of confidence and negative attitude towards statistics. Despite the fact, undergraduate medical schools and postgraduate education curriculum involve statistical courses but, still, many people feel deficit, stress, and frustration in calculation; affect their competence in statistics [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].

To elaborate more, a study reported 69% cannot understand and explain to others, and 79% are unable to critically appraise research. A research review found one-fourth concluding i.e.: wrong interpretation in research, ignoring the sample size, data distribution, incorrect summary, measurement, and choosing the wrong statistical test [8] [9].

Multiple articles have been observed that many medical professionals have a negative attitude toward statistics and are unable to interpret basic as well as advanced statistical concepts. But, no articles find the gap between physician familiarity and competency to answer correctly [9] [10] [11].

They need to be aware of this diversity in familiarity, and competency is a necessity for growth in a medical environment where the end product is well-trained collaborative science, scientists and funded research.

This study aims to assess the familiarity and competency of statistical concepts among physicians in Saudi Arabia.

2. Method

The frame was a cross-sectional study, convenience sampling used to identified population include (program directors, trainers, and residents, general practitioner), and an electronic survey conducted using the “Survey Monkey” platform [Appendix 1] in each hospital by their email addresses in six governmental local hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh beginning of December in 2018 till end of February in 2019.

A questionnaire [Appendix 1] was structured, and pre-tested in a pilot study on a sample of 20 participants then finalized. Results of the piloted questionnaires were not included in the analysis and validated by two statistician authors.

The survey includes three basic sections: the demographics, familiarity toward statistics, and competency of statistical concepts, consist of 13 basic and advance statistical questionnaire.

The first section involved personal data. The second part addressed perception familiarity questions preformed on a five-point scale, range (extremely familiar till not familiar at all). The last section involved questions on statistical knowledge in the form of statistical calculation.

Statistical Analysis:

Participant characteristics described by tabulation, frequency, and proportions. For analysis purposes the familiarity Likert-scale was dichotomized as “Not familiar” or “Familiar” with the two categories of “Moderately familiar” and “Extremely familiar” being allocated to “Familiar. We analyzed and compared by McNemar”s test of proportion (“Number of Familiarity” and “Correct answer of knowledge-based questionnaire”). A p-value of 0.000 used for statistical significance. SPSS version 24 used for analysis.

Patient and Public Involvement:

No patient involved.

3. Results

A total of 440 participants, full respond through their email. Show equal gender participation, with different medical specialties in Table 1.

More than half of participants showed their interest in conducting research, more than half of them conducted research as co-authors and 38% as principle investigator, less in data collection, data entry, and analysis process. From the total participants; more than a quarter published at least two articles.

Table 2 shows: half of them learned statistics in their undergraduate and postgraduate years. Around two-fifth enrolled in biostatistics courses as: research method, Evidence-based medicine, YouTube sessions, and less in statistical books.

Table 1: Shows the years since graduation from medical school, 28% of the study physicians had graduated more than 6 years ago while 19.3% graduated recently i.e. 1 - 3 years back. Among them, 30.7% took the last highest qualification within the last one-year time frame, 28% in the past two years and the rest of the participants received the highest certification more than three years back.

Table 2: Regarding the source of knowledge gain; more than half 65% - 62% learned statistics during their undergraduate and postgraduate period respectively, plus 27% from long-term courses for more than 5 days. Around 41% enrolled in Biostatistics courses like Research method, EBM domain, others (21%) chose to read statistical books.

The main aim is to assess the familiarity towards different statistical concepts in Figure 1 showing: 50% familiar to basic concepts in -Descriptive Statistics- includes (Scales of measurement, Graphical exploration of data, characteristics for a variable). And less than one-third familiar to advance statistical concepts include (Estimation, Confidence interval, hypothesis testing principle, Power analysis).

Figure 2 showed competency and understanding in answering different level of a questionnaire: half of them they understand the basic knowledge of statistics

in a simple calculation, around two-fifth answer correctly in advance statistics questionnaire.

In the last part of the analysis we found the gap difference between statistical familiarity concepts toward corrected answers in Table 3: represent the gap difference between statistical familiarity concepts toward corrected answers: that means (−47%) underestimated their knowledge and their ability to answer correctly, were (19%) confident to their knowledge and able to answer correct.

4. Discussion

The result of this convenient sample includes medical program directors, trainees and residents concluded; that they know better than they think about statistics especially basic concepts but, in an advance statistics was poor; same reference to competency questions. Interestedly more than half of them had at least one published research. Moreover, the gap difference between attitudes perception towards number corrected answers showed that the majority of participants underestimated themselves as a result of previous negative understanding, experience, and practice.

To review more statistical concepts; median concept in the present study was more prevalent in both familiarity and competency as well as in variables. While

Table 3: Represent the gap difference between statistical familiarity concepts toward corrected answers: that means (−47%) minimize their knowledge and their ability to answer correct, were (19%) confident to their knowledge and ability to answer correctly.

in null hypothesis, familiarity was weak but higher in competency question. The similar result obtained for Confident interval, likelihood ratio, number needed to treat, ANOVA, odd ratio, Kaplan Meier curve, and Pearson correlation.

Understanding of logistic regression was also low in familiarity and competency. Which it happened to ROC (receiver operating curve), even though it’s part of sensitivity and specificity; the participants are familiar to both concepts in an individual way; but, as a whole concept, they were confused. The same thing happened to P-value concept which is commonly used in articles.

Multiple articles show fair understanding of statistical concepts; suggesting that the problem is not specific to particular specialty but it’s an endemic issue within medical education. Further analysis, the mean correct answers of our participants to a statistics questionnaire scores more than half; which is not influenced by gender, years elapsed from graduation, other advanced degrees, or year of study [9] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16].

Despite that, the majority of participants have attended statistical training during undergraduate medical school, and postgraduate it should consider, similar finding in other studies [7] [8] [13]. These reports used different sets of questions compared to this study, thus hindering direct comparisons.

A study showed 76.7% clinicians were unable to identify appropriate statistical tests and 72% were not confident in designing their own study. Other articles report higher familiarity with statistical concepts, and low in competency questions [9] [10] [11] [12] [13].

This goes with a study: suggested that independent courses in statistics are unlikely to resolve clinicians’ research abilities and skills. In contrast, the integrating approach of statistics and research methods will positively affect clinicians’ research abilities and patient care decisions [17] [18].

This study presented important findings of the understanding of physicians in statistics to the existing pool of knowledge that many of the clinicians have knowledge about basic statistics at least to the level of it commonly used in research articles.

But, challenges expected: A recent systematic review proved; the complex of applying for such programs, limited effectiveness of many journal clubs, and motivated trainee [9] [10] - [21].

Another obstacle: to asses knowledge of the statistical concept that claims it measured by one simple question; a correct answer to one question does not prove that the concept is fully understood. As what an English historian Edward Gibbon said “the laws of probability so true in general so fallacious in particular” [19].

This highlights the importance of planning and implementing new interactive, integrated, and self-directed policies [9] [10] - [21].

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate statistical concepts in health care professionals in different specialties, with varying lengths of time since qualification and levels, and a good number in feedback.

Discussion, revision, and open ended questions are encouraged in journal clubs, research projects, and self-directed learning to minimize their hesitancy towards statistical practices.

5. Conclusion

Many of these clinicians were competent. But; there was a gap between competence and familiarity. Therefore, various strategies are required to enhance their confidence in statistical interpretations such as practical courses, involvement in research work, data analysis, improving teaching methods, and software skills. This will benefit in a medical decision relevant to clinical practice and for academic career growth.

Limitation

This study is limited to self-selected physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; these results cannot be generalized on the national level but, it was an initiative to highlight the issue. Another issue is response bias and multiple statistical testing.

Strengths and Limitations of This Study

· It’s a cross-sectional study: descripted plus analytic; by assessing the association between different questioners.

· Show prevalence of statistical knowledge in Saudi Arabia.

· First to investigate statistical concepts in health care professionals in different specialties, with varying lengths of time since qualification and levels, with good number in feedback.

· This study limited to self-selected physicians (representatives).

Practical Implications

· Physicians were found to have limited knowledge of statistics.

· Higher familiarity with statistical concepts, and low in competency questions.

· Minimize their hesitance towards statistics by conducting interactive session, and enhance their confidence.

Acknowledgements

To my family for their love, patience, and encouragement.

Contributorship Statement

· Hella O. Alothman, Contributions to conception & design of the work, interpretation & analysis of data, AND Drafting the work, AND Final approval of the version to be published, AND Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

· Emad Masuadi, Design of the work, interpretation of data.

· Tariq Al Othman, Acquisition, Data collection, analysis data, and proofreading.

· Samiah Almehmadi, Assistant in data, review.

· Mohammed H. Alenazi, data, and proofreading.

· Raghad AlOthman, Data collection, analysis data, drafting.

· Mazen S. Ferwana, Supervisor, Participating Investigators.

Funding

The authors declare that they have no funding.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Cite this paper

Alothman, H.O., Masuadi, E., Alothman, T., Almehmadi, S., Alenazi, M.H., Alothman, R. and Ferwana, M.S. (2020) What Physicians Know about Statistics in Saudi Arabia. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8, 282-294. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2020.81021

References

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

1) What is your Gender: Female Male

2) What is your age ................. years

3) What is Nationality ......................

4) Years of graduation from medical school …......... years

5) Highest certification;

MBBS Resident Board certified

Master Consultant PhD

other (specify) …………..

6) How many years from the last highest last degree/Certification ……... years

7) What is your specialty ....................

8) Your interest in research

Very interested somehow interested Not

interested

9) Did you participate in research as ….

Principle investigator Co-author Data analysis

Data collection None

other ………..

10) How many publication do you have …………………

11) What the source for your statistical knowledge

Undergraduate postgraduate

Extra curriculum long-term course > 5 days

Extra curriculum short-term course < 5 days

Extra curriculum long-term online course > 5 days

Extra curriculum short-term online course < 5 days

Reading a statistical book

Watching statistical YouTube session non-systematically

other (please specify) …………..

12) What was the course domain (name):

Public health Epidemiology Evidence based medicine

Research methodology Biostatistics Health informatics

Bio-informatics other (please specify) …………..

13) To what extend you consider yourself familiar with the following statistics concept:

14) Which one of the variable is numerical:

a) Gender

b) BMI

c) Nationality

d) specialty

15) Find the median; 3, 4, 2, 1, 6, 9, 7

a) 9

b) 7

c) 4

16) What is the first quartile:

a) splits off the lowest 25% of data from the highest 75%

b) cuts data set > 50%

c) splits off the highest 50% of data from the lowest 25%

17) Which one of Confidence interval is the widest:

a) 90%

b) 95%

c) 98%

d) 99%

18) If you reject the null hypothesis at 10% then:

a) It will be reject at 5%

b) It could be rejected or accepted at 5%

c) It can’t be reject at 5%

19) The p-value means:

a) Probability to reject the null hypothesis when it’s true.

b) Chance of accept null hypothesis when it’s true.

c) Probability of reject alternative when it’s true.

20) Calculate the odd ratio (from image):

a) 2

b) 8

c) 16

21) When to use Pearson correlation coefficient in:

a) measure association between two categorical.

b) measure association between two numerical.

c) measure association between categorical and numerical.

22) When to use binary logistic regression:

a) when outcome variable is continues.

b) when outcome variable is more than 2 category.

c) when the outcome variable is numerical.

d) when the outcome variable is only 2 category.

23) This image stand for which of following:

a) Kaplan-Meier curve

b) kappa curve

c) forest plot

24) In a diagnostic study the result shows 38% sensitivity, and 69% specificity. Find the positive likelihood ratio:

a) 0.5362

b) 0.5588

c) 0.3422

d) 1.2258

25) ROC curve is a plot for:

a) (1-specificity).

b) X, Y-axis are sensitivity.

c) (1-specificity & sensitivity)

26) ANOVA is:

a) To measure frequency in multiple data.

b) To compare prevalence between different groups.

c) To compare mean between different groups.