Effect of Hands-on Biostatistics Training on Postgraduate Nursing Students' Knowledge and Attitude at a Tertiary Care Institution, Sub-Himalayan Region: a quasi-experimental study

Background: Biostatistics is a vital component of healthcare, enabling nursing students to interpret and analyze health-related data effectively. However, gaps in statistical knowledge persist, making it essential to address these deficiencies to ensure professional competence and uphold ethical standards. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hands-on biostatistics training on postgraduate nursing students' knowledge and attitude at a tertiary care institution in Rishikesh, located in the sub-Himalayan region. Methodology: A quasi-experimental design was adopted for this study. Total enumerative sampling was used to recruit 38 postgraduate nursing students from a tertiary care institution in Rishikesh, located in the sub-Himalayan region. The intervention comprised 16 hours of expert-led hands-on training. The variables assessed were knowledge of and attitude toward biostatistics. Results: The mean age of the participants was 25.21 ± 3.54 years. The majority were female (89.5%, n = 34). Most participants (76.3%, n = 29) had not received prior statistical training. Significant improvements were observed in overall biostatistics knowledge scores across all domains (p = 0.001), overall attitude scores (p < 0.001), and the perceived difficulty domain (p = 0.006). Conclusion: The study indicates that hands-on biostatistics training improved postgraduate nursing students' knowledge and positively influenced their attitudes toward biostatistics. However, the findings are exploratory and context-specific and may be influenced by potential biases. Integrating such training into nursing curricula could enhance statistical literacy and support research participation and evidence-based practice. This will serve as a foundation for advancing the nursing discipline.