Objective: (1) To survey the learning need for a clinical epidemiology (CE) teaching program in the Thai medical curriculum at Hatyai Hospital
(2) To survey the journal reading habit (3) To evaluate understanding in the meaning of study design and basic statistical values.
Material and Methods: Structured interview was given to medical students and physicians at Hatyai Hospital. The questionnaire included 1. demographics of interviewee; 2. opinion on CE teaching program; 3. journal reading habit; 4. evaluation of basic understanding in the meaning of study design and statistical values.
Results: A total of 68 interviewees answered the questionnaire. 60% had learned the basics of CE. Most medical students had not learned it before, significantly different from physicians (p-value < 0.001). Almost all (97%) agreed with implementation of this program in the medical curriculum. The main advantage was the support for evidence-based medicine (EBM), 90%. The program should start at the preclinical year 40%, clinical year 54%, and post-graduate 4%. Regarding journal reading habit after reading title and objective, the next favorite parts were results (35%) and conclusions (31%). The least favorite part was methodology (50%); however, the most realized this was an important part. The contents of research methodology should include study design (46%) and biostatistics (34%). The understanding of the meaning of study design, p-value by self assessment and doing the test, cohort study and experimental study was fair but case control study was poor. Most interviewees understood p-value.
Conclusion: Most interviewees agreed with a CE teaching program in the medical curriculum including study design and biostatistics. Journal reading habit commonly included reading the results and conclusions but the research methodology section was frequently skipped. The understanding of the meaning of study design and statistical value was fair.