340 likes | 354 Views
Teaching a statistical program in emergency medicine research rotations: Command-driven or click-driven?. Muhammad Waseem, MD Research Director Emergency Medicine Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center Bronx, New York. Disclosure.
E N D
Teaching a statistical program in emergency medicine research rotations: Command-driven or click-driven? Muhammad Waseem, MD Research Director Emergency Medicine Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center Bronx, New York
Disclosure • Financial disclosures: None
Background • Stata is a command-driven program • It is a general-purpose statistical software package used by people of different backgrounds and professional disciplines • Most Stata users are non-physicians
Background • No matter which book you choose or which course you attend…. • Since Stata is used by people in many fields, most training programs offered are geared toward programmers and non-physicians
Background • Although Stata has simple commands, these may be difficult for non-programmers to use • Generally, physicians are familiar with “clicking on” rather than writing commands
Background • Research is an important part of curriculum of emergency medicine residency training • A Research Project is necessary for graduation of EM residents
Background • In order to fulfill this requirement EM residents have a mandatory research rotation
Background • ACGME fully accredited 3 year Emergency MedicineResidency Training Program • 33 EM residents (11 / year)
EM Research Rotation • Formulating a research question • Basic research design • Protocol writing and submission to IRB • Data Collection • Basic statistical concepts
EM Research Rotation • Data recording • Data entry • Data analysis
Background • First step is to organize the raw data into a format which is compatible with Stata
Objectives • Does introduction of a Statistical program (such as Stata) improve the accuracy of data recording and data entry?
Methods • Design: Observational • Setting: Emergency Department of an Urban Teaching Hospital • Participants: Emergency Medicine Residents
Methods • Research Elective • Two blocks of 14 days each • 1-2 per month (1:1 learning)
Methods • Emergency Medicine Stata Manual describing basic operation of Stata created with version 10
Methods • This manual was developed keeping in mind the needs of in-training Emergency Medicine Residents • EM residents mayhave some basic knowledge of statistics but no knowledge of Stata • Emphasis on data entry and data import
Emergency Medicine Stata Manual • Just an introduction designed for first time users
Methods • Teaches EM residents the essential skills for successful data entry and data import to Stata • Purpose is to reduce the number of incorrect entries and make the data set usable to Stata • Hands-on experience using Stata
Methods • Strengths • Tailored to the needs of a specific audience (EM residents) • Discusses only simple and basic operation of Stata
Methods • Weaknesses • Tailored to the needs of a specific rotation (EM residents research elective) • Does not teach residents detailed statistical analysis • Does not discuss programming
Methods • Keep it simple • Utilize pull-down menus (rather than commands) • No discussion on commands
Methods • Getting started • Stata screen • 4 Windows, 9 Tabs
Methods • 4 Windows • Review • Variables • Results • Command
Methods • 9 Tabs • File, Edit, Prefs, Data, Graphics, Statistics, User, Window, and Help
Methods • Basic commands with pull-down menus Describe and summarize data • Data input and output Data Import Saving files
Methods • Describe data • Data editor • Data browser
Conclusions • Basic operation of Stata can be learned quickly by EM residents • Teaching Stata to the EM residents expanded their research related knowledge • Providing introduction of Stata prior to data entry improve accuracy of data recording and facilitates data analysis
Limitations • Observational study • No standardized method • Small sample • Single center study
Implications • It is necessary to develop a training program that addresses the needs of physicians
Acknowledgement • Biostatistics Course (2009) Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York