Establishing a certificate in the analysis of medical data: a cross-sectional evaluation of a continuing professional development course in biostatistics in for healthcare professionals in Qatar
<h3 dir="ltr">Background</h3><p dir="ltr">Healthcare professionals often face challenges in conducting and publishing research, citing a lack of biostatistical knowledge and skills as a significant barrier. In response, a Continuing Professional Development (CPD...
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2025
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| Summary: | <h3 dir="ltr">Background</h3><p dir="ltr">Healthcare professionals often face challenges in conducting and publishing research, citing a lack of biostatistical knowledge and skills as a significant barrier. In response, a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course was developed to enhance local research capacity.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Objective</h3><p dir="ltr">This study aimed to evaluate the perceived impact of the biostatistics CPD course on self-reported knowledge, competence, and research engagement among healthcare professionals in Qatar.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Method</h3><p dir="ltr">A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted using routine data collected in accordance with CPD accreditation requirements. Data included attendance records, certificate completions, and findings from two self-report surveys administered post-course. The surveys assessed perceived changes in knowledge and competence, achievement of course objectives, barriers to certificate completion, and long-term outcomes such as manuscript development and publication.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Results</h3><p dir="ltr">The majority of participants (88%) reported improved knowledge, 86% reported increased competence, and 54% credited the course with supporting their ability to draft a manuscript. Challenges were more frequently noted in advanced topics such as survival analysis and regression modeling.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3><p dir="ltr">The CPD course in biostatistics yielded self-reported improvements in knowledge, competence, and performance among healthcare professionals. Challenges in advanced topics and certificate completion suggest the need for extended course duration, cost-effective online platforms, and enduring materials. Future studies using longitudinal designs and inferential methods could provide deeper insights into the long-term impact of such training initiatives.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: BMC Medical Education<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07999-7" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07999-7</a></p> |
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