Investigation of biostatistical knowledge and anxiety levels of assistant physicians at Fırat University Faculty of Medicine

Biostatistics is a scientific discipline concerned with the systematic collection, quantitative analysis, and scientific interpretation of data in the field of health. Physicians utilize biostatistics to support clinical decision-making, analyze the spread of diseases, and conduct scientific research. However, concerns or anxiety related to biostatistics can negatively impact physicians' willingness to learn and, consequently, their level of knowledge. This study aimed to investigate the biostatistics knowledge levels and biostatistical anxiety among resident physicians working at Fırat University Faculty of Medicine. This prospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2024 and May 2025 with the participation of 351 resident physicians employed at Fırat University Faculty of Medicine. Data were collected through face-to-face administration of a questionnaire consisting of 20 items assessing biostatistics knowledge and the 17-item Statistical Anxiety Scale for Graduate Students. A total of 351 resident physicians were included in the study. Only 5.4% (n=19) of the participants considered their biostatistics knowledge sufficient, while 75.8% (n=266) perceived their knowledge as insufficient, and 18.8% (n=66) were undecided. A majority of participants (80.1%) reported that they had never authored a scientific publication. The median score for the biostatistics knowledge questionnaire was 5.00 (range: 0.00–85.00), while the median statistical anxiety score was 40.00 (range: 16.00–64.00). Participants who reported having received prior biostatistics training had significantly higher knowledge scores than those who had not (p=0.007). Similarly, those with scientific publications had higher knowledge levels (p<0.001). Participants who stated they could interpret scientific articles had significantly higher knowledge scores (p=0.003). A significant negative correlation was found between biostatistics knowledge scores and statistical anxiety scores (r = -0.228; p < 0.001). As a result, the resident physicians included in this study demonstrated generally insufficient levels of biostatistics knowledge. The most significant factor associated with higher knowledge levels was post-graduate biostatistics training. Participants with higher biostatistics knowledge were more confident in reading and interpreting scientific literature and had a greater number of scientific publications. Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between knowledge levels and statistical anxiety. Residents with higher anxiety levels tended to have fewer publications and lower self-confidence in interpreting scientific articles. Key Words: Biostatistics, biostatistical anxiety