What are the most effective ways to use Biostatistics learning resources in public health?

1 Choose the right resources for your level and goals

There are many biostatistics learning resources available online, such as textbooks, courses, videos, podcasts, blogs, and forums. However, not all of them are suitable for your level and goals. Some may be too advanced or too basic, while others may focus on topics that are not relevant to your public health interests. Therefore, you should choose the resources that match your current knowledge, learning style, and objectives. For example, if you are a beginner who wants to learn the basics of biostatistics for public health, you may benefit from a course that covers the main concepts and methods, such as this one from Coursera. On the other hand, if you are an intermediate or advanced learner who wants to deepen your skills or explore specific applications of biostatistics in public health, you may prefer a textbook that provides more details and examples, such as this one from Oxford University Press.

2 Review the concepts and formulas regularly

Biostatistics involves many concepts and formulas that you need to remember and apply correctly. However, it is easy to forget them if you do not review them regularly. Therefore, you should make a habit of revising the concepts and formulas that you have learned, and testing your understanding and recall. You can use flashcards, quizzes, exercises, or practice problems to help you with this. For example, you can use this website from Boston University to create and review flashcards on biostatistics topics. Alternatively, you can use this website from the University of Texas to take quizzes and practice problems on biostatistics concepts and methods.

3 Apply what you learn to real-world data and problems

One of the best ways to use biostatistics learning resources in public health is to apply what you learn to real-world data and problems. This will help you to consolidate your knowledge, develop your analytical skills, and see the relevance and value of biostatistics in public health. You can use datasets and case studies from public health sources, such as the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Global Burden of Disease Study. You can also use software tools, such as R, SAS, SPSS, or Excel, to perform statistical analyses and visualize the results. For example, you can use this tutorial from RStudio to learn how to use R to analyze data from a public health survey.

5 Keep learning and updating your skills

Biostatistics is a dynamic and evolving field that constantly develops new methods and applications for public health. Therefore, you should keep learning and updating your skills to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in biostatistics. You can follow biostatistics journals, blogs, podcasts, or newsletters that publish new research, insights, or news on biostatistics and public health. For example, you can follow this journal from the American Statistical Association, this blog from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, this podcast from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, or this newsletter from the International Biometric Society. You can also attend biostatistics webinars, workshops, or conferences that offer opportunities to learn from experts, network with peers, and discover new ideas and projects in biostatistics and public health.