74% and 26.13%, respectively), and some (21.94%) decided the sample size according to previously published articles. Only 152 respondents (49.03%) made the effort to calculate sample size correctly, either selleck inhibitor by using a standard formula (13.87%) or by asking for the help of statistician (35.16%). Thirteen (4.19%) respondents did not answer the question related to calculation of sample size. Various options were chosen by subjects in response to the question on the factors upon which data analysis depends: namely study design, sample size, type of data, and aim and objectives. Only 124 (40%) of the respondents mentioned all the factors that can influence data analysis. Twelve (3.87%) respondents did not have any knowledge about this. They responded as ��don��t know.
�� The most commonly mentioned use of a test of significance was ��to find out the association�� and in general the respondents had very little knowledge about the other uses of test of significance. Three (0.9%) respondents had no idea whatsoever about the uses of tests of significance, and 16 (19.4%) did not respond to the question at all. None of the respondents was able to mention all the applications of tests of significance [Table 1]. Table 1 Various factors for which medical professionals seek the help of the statistician The majority of the respondents (172; 55.5%) were unaware about different sampling techniques, and those who claimed about biostatistical knowledge, could not mention the various sampling techniques correctly. Irrelevant names of sampling techniques were given by 45 (14.
51%) respondents, means they were totally unaware about sampling techniques. 74 (23.87%) mentioned the correct names, and 191 (61.61%) could not mention any of the names also. Two hundred and three (65.5%) of the respondents admitted to preparing dummy tables in their research project. Two hundred and sixty-five (85.5%) of the respondents felt that they would need the help of a statistician for proper presentation of data, whereas the remaining respondents considered themselves capable of doing this without help. Standard deviation (SD) is a measure of dispersion. It measures the degree variation in the data. The majority of the respondents (197; 63.55%) mentioned the correct meaning of standard deviation. Of the 310 respondents, 53 (17.1%) said that SD is a measure of central tendency, 11 (3.
55%) stated that it is a measure of skewness, and 47 (15.16%) respondents did not even answer the question. In this study, we scored each respondent for appropriate use of biostatistics. The maximum possible score was 20. The range of the scores obtained by the respondents was 1�C20, and the median score was 11. We found that the score was independent of designation (P=.22); however, higher scores were obtained Anacetrapib by professors than by associate professors and lecturers. The score of PG students was high in comparison to that of MD or MS degree holders, diploma holders, and MSc holders.