Enhancing Statistical Competence in Andrology: Outcomes of an Online Medical Statistics Training Program.

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the impact of a structured online medical statistics webinar on researchers in andrology, both clinicians and non-clinicians. The objectives were to: 1) emphasize the critical role of statistical literacy in medical and biomedical research, 2) evaluate participants' baseline knowledge, 3) determine the impact of the webinar on knowledge acquisition and satisfaction, and 4) analyze the influence of gender and institutional setting on learning outcomes.

Materials and methods: The Global Andrology Forum (GAF) conducted a webinar comprising four expert-led lectures on medical statistics and male infertility research. Participants completed three online surveys evaluating baseline characteristics, pre- and post-course knowledge, and satisfaction.

Results: Post-webinar analysis showed a significant improvement in statistical knowledge, with the mean percentage of correct responses rising from 55.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 51.35-59.86) to 66.8% (95% CI: 62.48-71.14) (p<0.05). Female participants demonstrated over twice as much a greater average score increase (16.1) compared to males (7.9), though the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.092). Participants from public institutions showed the most substantial improvement (p<0.001), while private sector participants had a more modest and non-significant increase (p=0.054). Overall satisfaction was high, with 77.6% of participants indicating that they would recommend the course to their colleagues.

Conclusions: This structured online webinar significantly improved the participants' statistical knowledge, highlighting the importance of such training in medical research. The high levels of participant satisfaction and positive feedback regarding the course underscore the webinar's success. This study highlights the potential for future targeted online statistical educational initiatives and the need for such training for researchers in andrology and biomedicine.