Using and Teaching Stata in Emergency Medicine Research Rotation Muhammad Waseem, MD Research Director Emergency Medicine Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center Bronx, New York
Disclosure Financial disclosures: None
Background Participation in scholarly activities is a requirement of an Emergency Medicine (EM) Residency Curriculum A research project is necessary for graduation of EM residents
Background In order to fulfill this requirement EM residents have a mandatory research rotation
Background ACGME fully accredited 3 year EM Residency Training Program 33 EM residents (11 / year)
EM Research Rotation Formulating a research question Basic research designs Protocol writing and submission to IRB Basic statistical concepts Data collection/entry and analysis
Background First step in data analysis is to organize the raw data into a format which can be used by Stata Stata is a general purpose statistical package –Physicians versus Programmers
Background We believe that the research understanding of EM residents will be enhanced if they are provided with the basic knowledge of a statistical program prior to data collection and data entry The purpose of this training is to equip EM residents with the necessary knowledge and understanding that will help to improve data recording
Objective Does providing basic knowledge of a Statistical program (such as Stata) improve the accuracy of data recording and data entry?
Methods Design: Observational Setting: Emergency Department of an Urban Teaching Hospital Participants: EM Residents
Methods Research Elective –Two blocks of 14 days –1-2 per month (1:1 learning)
Methods EM Stata Manual describing basic operation of Stata created with version 10
Methods How does EM Stata manual differ from Stata help?
Methods How does EM Stata manual differ from Stata help? This manual was developed keeping in mind the needs of in-training EM Residents –First time users EM residents may have some basic knowledge of statistics but little or no knowledge of Stata –Emphasis on data entry and data import
Methods Teaches EM residents the essential skills for successful data entry and data import to Stata Purpose is to reduce the number of incorrect entries and make the data set usable to Stata Hands-on experience using Stata
Methods Strengths –Tailored to the needs of a specific audience (EM residents) –Discuss only simple and basic operation of Stata
Methods Weaknesses –Tailored to the needs of a specific rotation (EM residents research elective) –Does not teach residents detailed statistical analysis –Does not discuss programming
Methods Keep it simple We utilize pull-down menus (rather than commands) –No discussion on commands
Methods Getting started Stata screen 4 Windows, 8 Tabs
Methods 4 Windows –Review –Variables –Results –Command
Methods 8 Tabs File, Edit, Data, Graphics, Statistics, User, Window, and Help
Methods Basic commands with pull-down menus Describe and summarize data Tables of frequencies Tables of mean Data input and output Data Import Saving files
Methods Describe data Data editor Data browser
Data Sheets Prior to Introducing Stata
Data Sheets After Introducing Stata
Results Teaching basics of a statistical program (such as Stata) improves the accuracy of data recording and data entry
Conclusions Basic operation of Stata can be learned quickly by EM residents Teaching Stata to the EM residents may expand their research related knowledge Providing introduction of Stata prior to data entry improves accuracy of data recording and facilitates data analysis
Limitations Small sample Single center study Observational study – not standardized
Implications Little effort before data entry can save significant time in data cleaning Teaching statistical program during research rotation makes it more practical and interactive