Biostatistics plays a key role in planning, conduct, analysis and reporting of a research. Teaching biostatistics and research methodology is often considered as a difficult task to medical students. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cognition, comprehension and application of biostatistics in research in the 1st year postgraduate medical students.

A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data regarding knowledge and application of biostatistics from 65 postgraduate students registered. A series of 10 lectures were taken on various topics of biostatistics and research methodology. All students were subjected to Multiple Choice Questions covering all the topics before the 1st lecture and after the 10th lecture. Mean knowledge score was calculated and data were analyzed.

Only 16.92% students had publication, 35.38% students have presented a paper/poster in any national or international conference while only 10.76% students have participated in any research methodology workshop. A total of 63.07% students said that they were aware of importance of biostatistics in research, 50.76% students said that they were having some knowledge of biostatistics. A total of 60% students have consulted statistician regarding the study while 23.07% students have attempted statistical analysis on their own. A total of 33.84% students are familiar with the use of MS-EXCEL spreadsheet. There was statistically significant improvement seen in the mean knowledge score of the students after the lectures in comparison to the mean knowledge score before the lectures.

Considering the fruitful outcome of structured training program in biostatistics, there is a need for provision of formal training in biostatistics to postgraduate students in all medical colleges. Capacity building initiative in this domain is the need of the hour.

Vohra R, Dubhashi SP, Sharma BN, Saxena GN, Vohra A. Cognition, Comprehension and Application of Biostatistics in Research by Postgraduate Medical Students of a Tertiary care Teaching Hospital: Pretest and Posttest Study Design. J Mahatma Gandhi Univ Med Sci Tech 2016;1(1):5-9.