IMPROVING DOCTORS UNDERSTANDING OF STATISTICS

Statistics is of ever increasing importance in medicine. We review the need for statistical knowledge in medicine, what doctors need to know about statistics and whether the state of statistical knowledge among doctors is adequate. We then consider the ways in which doctors acquire statistical knowledge. We discuss undergraduate and post-graduate teaching, the quality of many text-books, the example given by papers in medical journals, the use of statistical computer programs and statistical consultancy. Lastly we discuss ways in which both doctors and statisticians can act to improve matters.