ICMR-NAMS launches a free Biostatistics Helpline for medical students and researchers, offering expert guidance on statistical methods, sample size calculations, and more to simplify research challenges.
Published Sep 05, 2024 | 7:13 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2024 | 7:13 PM
ICMR-NAMS National Biostatistics Helpline. Representative Image. (Creative Commons)
For medical students pursuing their postgraduate degrees, tackling complex research projects often comes with one major roadblock —biostatistics. Whether calculating the right sample size or navigating data analysis, the world of biostatistics can quickly become overwhelming.
To address this, in a collaborative effort, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) launched the“ICMR-NAMS National Biostatistics Helpline”.
This initiative is designed to offer practical support to students and young researchers grappling with statistical challenges in their research work, ensuring they are never alone in this critical part of their academic journey.
This new service is poised to address a growing need within medical colleges and research institutes, where many students often struggle with understanding and applying biostatistical methods.
The helpline provides one-on-one virtual consultation, free of charge, allowing students to connect directly with national and international experts in epidemiology and biostatistics.
According to the release by the ICMR, the helpline will provide:
According to students South First spoke to, the majority of them find it difficult to grasp statistical methods, leading to challenges in executing their research effectively.
“For me, statistical methods like determining the appropriate sample size is a major hurdle. Even small errors can invalidate a study’s findings,” Prajna NS from Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences told South First.
Meanwhile, PhD students claimed that choosing the correct statistical tests for analysing research data could be confusing without expert guidance.
Balancing academics with research leaves little room for students to deep-dive into biostatistics, necessitating quick, expert advice.
The helpline claims to provide expert hand-holding by providing seasoned professionals offering tailored solutions, making biostatistics less intimidating and more accessible for students.
“This service will be provided free of charge; students can book slots for virtual one-to-one interaction with experts. We encourage students pursuing MD/MS/DNB/DM/MCh/DrNB/PhD programmes or other researchers to use this platform and discuss issues related to sampling, sample size calculation etc. Our resource faculty will guide them in solving the problems,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, virtual consultations mean students and researchers can seek help from anywhere, at times that suit their busy schedules.
By eliminating the biostatistics burden for students, the ICMR-NAMS National Biostatistics Helpline aims to cultivate a new wave of research excellence.
Appreciating the effort, Ravi K a PhD scholar said, “I struggled with choosing the right statistical test for my research. The more I read, the more confused I became.”
“Without the right test, my data wouldn’t mean anything, and I was worried my work would be invalid,”
Meanwhile, Meera J, a DNB resident from St John’s Medical College in Bengaluru said balancing clinical duties with research left her no time to go deep into biostatistics.
“I needed quick solutions, but the process of finding them on my own was taking too long. I hope the helpline does what it claims to do. If it does, it will definitely benefit us,” she added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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