FORMATION OF SKILLS IN USING DIGITAL TOOLS FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AMONG FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of developing future healthcare professionals’ skills in the use of digital tools for statistical analysis in the context of the digital transformation of medical education and the advancement of evidencebased medicine. The need to integrate fundamental training in mathematical statistics with the practical application of contemporary statistical software is substantiated, as such tools facilitate medical data processing, statistical hypothesis testing, and the interpretation of research findings. The study analyzes current approaches to statistics education, regulatory requirements for the development of digital competence among healthcare professionals, and the specific features of teaching mathematical statistics at the Bogomolets National Medical University. Methodological approaches to developing practical skills in the use of digital statistical analysis tools are proposed through professionally oriented learning tasks employing Microsoft Excel and the specialized statistical software package EZR. Using the two-sample Kolmogorov – Smirnov test, Pearson’s χ² test, the Mann – Whitney U test, and the Kruskal – Wallis test as examples, the paper demonstrates step-by-step procedures for performing statistical analyses both in a spreadsheet environment and within specialized statistical software. The findings indicate that the use of EZR substantially simplifies statistical computations, automates analytical procedures, reduces the likelihood of technical errors, and enables students to focus on selecting appropriate statistical methods, interpreting analytical results, and making evidence-informed decisions in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine. It is concluded that integrating digital statistical analysis tools into the professional training of future healthcare professionals promotes the development of digital competence, research skills, and preparedness for the effective application of modern digital technologies in healthcare practice