awareness and attitude towards applications of biostatistics by the healthcare professionals in their decision making in north karnataka, india

b a c k g r o u n d  & aim: the objective  of our study was to find out the awareness, inclination  and desire to apply the biostatistics as a tool in their areas of work by healthcare professionals. methods   &  materials:    a  cross-sectional   study  was  done  using  self-administered,   validated questionnaire,  among the faculty,  resident  doctors and internees  of medical  college,  physiotherapy college, dental college and nursing college. study was done in north karnataka, india, during 2012-13. results: out of a total of 500 questionnaires  that were distributed  among participants,  only 460 questionnaires  were received with a dropout rate of 8%. the response rate was 92%. most of the respondents believed that the biostatistics is more difficult than other subjects of medical sciences. the total mean perception of knowledge scores was 21.2 ± 4.26 and total mean attitude scores was 33.4 ± 6.78 and were statistically significant (p < 0.05). conclusion:  the study has brought out the fact that “biostatistics”  is a difficult subject, more of mathematics  and  is  best  left  to  experts.  however  the  respondents  have  felt  “biostatistics”  an important part of evidence based medicine and a necessary skill for healthcare professional.