Statistical Competencies for Learners in the Health Sciences: Evolution and Evaluation

• Activity Number: 530
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Felicity Boyd Enders* and Bob Oster* and Leah J. Welty* and Susan Perkins*
• Companies: Mayo Clinic and The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Indiana University
• Keywords: Competency ; Evaluation ; Course Development ; Clinical and Translational Science ; Public Health

Abstract

As statistics is constantly evolving, so must teaching researchers in the Health Sciences. New methods, new technologies, and new critical needs in each of the health disciplines prompt the constant updating of the biostatistics curriculum to meet each learner's needs. The Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design special interest group of the Association of Clinical and Translational Science has developed a framework for selecting statistical competencies for educating researchers in the health sciences. In this panel, Bob Oster will present a consensus paper describing what different types of students most need to learn - and what topics can be optional or even excluded. Leah Welty will discuss the evolution of statistical competencies in the health sciences and describe how simple changes in terminology can drastically impact accessibility among different learners. Felicity Enders will present results of a survey of statisticians and statistical educators describing which competencies are fundamental, and which are specialized. Susan Perkins will reflect on progress and future directions.