Investigating academic veterinarians’ knowledge of biostatistics: a web-based survey

Abstract

Summary:The primary aim of our study, web-based survey, is to gain an understanding of veterinarians' statistical knowledge and how it varies by focus area. The secondary aim is to address the following question: when should biostatistics be taught in veterinary education? A total of 155 veterinarians from 41 countries participated in this study. The results indicate that while veterinarians place an emphasis on biostatistics education, the majority state that biostatistics education should be taken both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level and the participants also believe that taking a biostatistics course is useful for their occupation. In biostatistics education, the topic of sampling, which plays a significant role at the planning stage of any study, should be considered particularly important. A biostatistics education should also emphasize the necessity of consulting to a biostatistician when planning a study.