La cultura estadística en estudiantes universitarios

Objective: This study aimed to measure the level of statistical literacy in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science students. This is important for properly understanding diagnostic tests, as well as the risks and probabilities that help make clinical decisions in their work. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 43 students from the fourth semester of parallel F. The CEVET-10 questionnaire, which consists of ten multiple-choice questions about clinical situations with statistical content, was administered to these students. The data were processed using descriptive statistics, employing absolute frequencies, percentages, and item-wise accuracy distribution. Results: A good performance was found in concepts such as sensitivity (70%), specificity (70%), and positive predictive value (81%), indicating a good grasp of basic notions of diagnostic tests. However, problems were found in the interpretation of situations with a prevalence of 49%, in the choice of measures to compare treatments (35%), and in identifying cognitive biases, especially the lack of attention to the base rate. Conclusions: Statistical training showed significant advances, although it still had gaps in applied probabilistic reasoning. It was concluded that it is necessary to reinforce the teaching of statistics with practical strategies linked to real clinical cases, to consolidate a functional statistical culture that improves decision-making in veterinary professional practice and strengthens the analytical skills of future professionals in that field.