Discussion prompt: Why do you think so many hospital administrators have difficulty understanding the statistical methods used in healthcare research?  

Discussion Prompt

Understanding research statistical methods is important for healthcare professionals since the medical profession has inherent variabilities. This means that exposure to pathogen infection varies widely and therefore needs to be measured statistically. Statistical methods allow hospital administrators to make reasonable conclusions, especially since there are many uncertainties (Aggarwal, 2018). However, many professionals working in clinical settings are unaware of understanding and interpreting statistical methods used in research. This is caused by various factors that impede the understanding of medical statistical methods.

First, hospital administrators may have insufficient knowledge of statistical methods due to a lack of training. Many hospitals do not prioritize or allocate enough resources to train their employees on statistical research methods. Most of the resources are directed towards medication and treatment of patients or advertising hospital services. Further, medical students do not acquire knowledge in institutions which exacerbates the issue (Jenny, Keller & Gigerenzer, 2018). Some hospital administrators are not practiced medical professionals and cannot interpret statistical methods used in medical research. Hospitals need to prioritize cultivating knowledge and skills among their employees through training and ensuring they have a medical background during the hiring process (Aggarwal, 2018).

Hospital administrators may also find it difficult to understand statistical methods used in healthcare research because they lack time to study existing and emerging trends in research. Hospital employees work day and night shifts, and most do not have time to carry out extra activities. Many health professionals are unable to study and work simultaneously due to the demands of the medical profession (Aggarwal, 2018). Medicine is constantly evolving, and new trends in research are emerging that healthcare providers should be aware of. According to Aggarwal (2018), awareness helps them carry out their jobs efficiently since they can measure the benefits and harm of healthcare interventions through medical statistics.