Studying the Relationship between the Teaching Status of Research Methods, Biostatistics Courses and, Academic Research Skills, from the Graduates Point of View

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between passing biostatistics and research methods courses and academic research skills in graduates. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 633 graduates during 2016-2022 from Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The explanatory factors were passing biostatistics and research methods courses and having statistical consultant. The outcomes were the duration of preparing proposal and thesis, and paper publication. Univariate and multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with %95CI. Significance level was set to 0.05 Results: 433 (68.4%) were female, and 371 (58.6%) were married. The mean±SD age of the graduates was 34.5±7.06 years. 413 (65.2%) were graduates from MSc and MPH and 128 (20.2%) from PhD. For Masters and MPH, the odds of prolonging the duration of preparing the proposal for who had Biostatistical consultant in their research team was 40% lower than the graduates who had no Biostatistical consultant (OR=0.6[95%CI:(0.39,0.91], P=0.01). In PhD graduates, the odds of prolonging the duration of preparing the proposal for who passed research methods course was 2.94 (1.06, 8.2) times than that of did not pass (P=0.03). Passing Biostatistics course was associated with lower odds of prolonging the duration of preparing thesis (OR=0.3[95% CI: (0.1, 0.86)], P=0.04). The odds of paper publication was marginally associated with research methods workshop participation (OR=3.7[95%CI: (0.82, 16.74], P=0.09) in PhD graduates. Conclusion: Passing Biostatistics and research methods courses and presence of a statistical consultant in the students’ thesis team were associated with shortened proposal or thesis preparation duration, and having publications from thesis more likely.