title: Medical researchers evaluate their methodological skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical epidemiology and statistics skills of clinical researchers are often limited. We assessed methodological skills of medical researchers and identified factors associated with higher skill levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional mail survey at two Swiss teaching hospitals, participants (N=409) rated their ability to perform 26 research-related activities, such as identifying the research question, selecting a study design, computing the required sample size, performing data analysis, and reporting results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of respondents who were able to perform a specific activity was 33.2% on average, ranging from 1.5% for "numerical statistics (bootstrap, simulation, cross-validation,...)" to 76.0% for "oral presentation of results." The overall skill level (expressed as a percentage of the 26 activities) was associated with principal investigator experience (+8.7%), greater percentage of time devoted to research (+12.4% for near full-time versus no time commitment), years of research experience (+17.6% for 15-40 years versus 0 years), past number of clinical research projects (+18.0% for 15-230 projects versus 0-1 projects), and hours of formal methodological training (+32.6% for 200-1200 hours versus 0-9 hours).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported methodological skills were generally modest. The most important covariates of skill levels were current time commitment to research, past experience, and formal training.
authors.affiliation: Quality of Care Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. Thomas.perneger@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Perneger
authors.forename: Bara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ricou
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boulvain
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bovier
authors.forename: François R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burnand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D012108:Research Personnel; D012647:Self-Assessment