Matching Skills to Needs: Biostatistics for Health Professionals and Other Specialists

• Activity Number: 516
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Marie Diener-West*+
• Companies: John Hopkins University-School of Public Health
• Keywords: biostatistics for health professionals ; short courses ; online learning ; statistics for science writers

Abstract

Numeracy and proficiency in biostatistics are no longer the sole domain of biostatisticians. Wider appreciation for evidence-based practices, growing accessibility to data capture, and gains in computing are bringing analytic opportunities to a broader array of health professionals. However, with this comes the need for more professionals to be familiar with biostatistics and its applications. Acquiring basic or intermediate competencies in biostatistics is required to synthesize, infer, and communicate scientific results to ever wider audiences of interest. Once only available through didactic degree programs, venues such as short courses and internet-based instruction provide convenient learning options. The introduction of online courses has widened opportunities to individuals outside of degree programs, regardless of geographic location. There also is increased need for courses for science writers to assess the credibility of research and adequately explain findings to a more sophisticated public. This session will review options that have been explored and developed at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to meet these growing needs in the years ahead.