MedEdPORTAL (May 2014)
Clinical Research Statistics: An Interactive Self-Study Quiz
Abstract
Abstract Introduction The study of evidence-based medicine involves complex statistical concepts. One of the most challenging aspects for students is the transition from simplified explanatory examples of such topics to analysis of their application in clinical research. This module serves to bridge that gap and guides the progression from following step-by-step examples to independently approaching open-ended questions. It is designed for use by medical and other professional students to reinforce the topics of power, p value, and type I and type II error. Methods With examples taken from medical literature, the problem sets emphasize defining statistical terms, factors affecting study power, and common sources of error. The learner has the option to follow a link for applicable reference information so if at any point they are stumped, they can access progressively more detailed reminders of the core concept required to solve the problem until they reach the point from which they are able to approach the rest of the problem independently. This module is most effective as a self-study tool to assess and promote understanding. Results The first module in this series was distributed to first-year medical students as a self-study supplement for a classroom-based evidence-based medicine course. The cumulative exam score rose 5% from the average in previous years. We plan to release this module to medical students enrolled in both that course and the fourth-year evidence-based medicine elective, pending approval of the dean. Discussion This module is the first in a series of similar interactive tools for reinforcing evidence-based medicine topics. In the future, we hope that using the complete series will enable students to build on the understanding gained in each module to generate a comprehensive understanding of this complex but important area of study.
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