Academic Programs

1.) EDUCATIONAL COURSES

Though the Department of Medical Biometrics and Informatics is well recognized as a Resource Centre for Research Methodology and Biostatistics, structured courses in Biostatistics have yet to be started. The Standing Academic Committee (SAC) of Institute in its first meeting held in July 2009, had agreed in principle and subsequently, in the third meeting held in November 2010, approved the initiation of PhD programme and Post-Graduate courses in Medical Biometrics (Biostatistics) at the earliest after the creation of essential faculty and staff positions, apart from establishing the Department with adequate infrastructure and facilities.

The faculty in the Department is undertaking entire teaching in Biostatistics & Demography for MBBS; Biostatistics for B.Sc. (MLT); Research and Biostatistics for M.Sc. & B.Sc. Nursing students and also for MRO/MRT trainees; apart from teaching Research Methodology and Biostatistics to Medical Post-Graduates and M.Sc. Medical Biochemistry students.

2.) CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

A.) The Department is actively involved as Core-faculty through the Department of Medical Education in conduct of Orientation Programmes & Workshops on ‘Research, Ethics and Communication skills’ for 1st year medical postgraduates during the month of July to help them prepare the thesis protocols and a separate Workshop on ‘Research Methodology’ focused on data analysis and thesis writing for 3rd year Postgraduates during the month of April, every year. During the current year separate additional Workshops on Research Methodology and Biostatistics were introduced for DM & MCh Post Doctoral Programmes and also for Ph.D. Scholars of various disciplines as detailed hereunder;

B.) Soon after the inauguration of SPSS Computer Lab-cum-Seminar Room by Director in the month of July 2012; the Department conducted a three-day Workshop on Statistical Package SPSS – Hands-on Training (Part I), during the period 30th, 31st August and 1st September 2012. A total of 17 Ph.D. Scholars and Faculty have participated with learning objectives to understand the Basic concepts in Biostatistics and SPSS, Preparation of Database in SPSS & Summary Statistics.

In continuity with the success of the above, Part II of the SPSS-Workshop on Tests of Association, Correlation Analysis & Regression Analysis was held during the 6th, 7th & 8th September 2012. A total of 21 Ph.D. Scholars and Faculty have participated.

Considering the requests and demands’ of the participants again an SPSS-Workshop (Part III) on Tests of Association-II, Comparison of Two or More Groups (ANOVA) & Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests including ROC curves was organized, during 7th, 8th and 15th February 2013. A total of 17 Ph.D. Scholars and Faculty have participated

C.) A separate full-day ‘SPSS- hands-on training’ Workshop for College of Nursing was conducted to facilitate M.Sc. Nursing students’ Research Proposals on 5th January 2013. Venue - SPSS Computer Lab of the Department.

In continuity with the earlier two seminars organized during 2011, the third full-day Seminar was conducted by the Department on 21st September 2012, coinciding with the availability of the Visiting Professor to the Department; Dr. Abhaya Indrayan, Ex. Senior Professor and Head, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Delhi, was the key resource person apart from the faculty from JIPMER. A total of 32 Faculty and Researchers have participated in the Seminar. The interactive Seminar on “Writing Research Proposals for JSAC” had four Sessions focused on - Research Methodology Basic Concepts for Research Proposals, Questionnaire and Qualitative Research followed by the Inaugural Talk by the Dean, JIPMER on ‘Intramural Funding’; Study Designs and Sample Size flowed through detailed discussions; Writing Research Proposals along with Group Task & a Plenary Session and Testing of Hypothesis & Tests of Significance & Philosophy of Statistical tests.

It is proposed to conduct regular training programmes, seminars & workshops on ‘Research Methodology and Biostatistics’ for medical Postgraduates, Ph.D. Scholars, Junior & Senior Faculty of the Institute and also to hold periodic regional & national level workshops and seminars on topics of current interest.