The Statistical Literacy of Health Information System Workforces in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 2016

Nowadays, the ability to understand and interpret statistical data is the basis for any decision in all societies. In the health system, people who play a role in the information system cycle could have a significant impact on decision makers in health organizations and communities. This study was conducted to investigate the statistical literacy of the HIS managers and workers as an educational need assessment in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences In this cross-sectional study, statistical literacy of 89 statistics officials and statisticians working in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services was investigated via a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed based on the basic scientific requirements of the study group and educational programs held during the past two years and inspiration from the two questionnaires developed by Watson (Watson, 2003) and Shield (Shield, 2002).    The mean score of the respondents (19.7) was slightly higher than half (19) of the total score. 50% of the participants obtained a score of 19 and lower.  Only 25% of the participants answered about two-thirds of the questions correctly. The statistical literacy of the participants about the measures of central tendency and using tables and charts was less than the areas of the probability and statistical inference. The findings indicate the need for designing more effective in-service training sessions and workshops for HIS workers, paying more attention to the quality of the reported health statistical data, and employing HIS workers by the health system administrators.