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Zapf A, Huebner M, Rauch G, Kieser M. What makes a biostatistician? Stat Med 2018; 38:695-701. [PMID: 30294934 DOI: 10.1002/sim.7998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Biostatisticians play an important role in medical research. They are co-responsible for an appropriate and efficient study design, they are involved in monitoring the study conduct, they plan and perform the data analysis, and they are involved in interpreting and publishing the results. However, how are the biostatisticians prepared for their tasks and responsibilities? Graduate programs in biostatistics are being offered, but some practicing biostatisticians completed their studies in a mathematical or epidemiological program, or obtained their degree in subject-specific fields (such as medicine or biology). Therefore, the expertise and the competencies can vary widely between the individual biostatisticians, also depending on the application field. In this article, focusing on European and US practices, we discuss the required professional expertise for the main areas of applications in the medical field as well as the necessary soft skill competencies of a biostatistician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Zapf
- Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marianne Huebner
- Department of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Geraldine Rauch
- Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health), Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meinhard Kieser
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W. Gibson
- Biostatistical Sciences and Pharmacometrics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, NJ
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Perkins SM, Bacchetti P, Davey CS, Lindsell CJ, Mazumdar M, Oster RA, Peduzzi PN, Rocke DM, Rudser KD, Kim M. Best Practices for Biostatistical Consultation and Collaboration in Academic Health Centers. AM STAT 2016; 70:187-194. [PMID: 27777443 DOI: 10.1080/00031305.2015.1077727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Given the increasing level and scope of biostatistics expertise needed at academic health centers today, we developed best practices guidelines for biostatistics units to be more effective in providing biostatistical support to their institutions, and in fostering an environment in which unit members can thrive professionally. Our recommendations focus on the key areas of: 1) funding sources and mechanisms; 2) providing and prioritizing access to biostatistical resources; and 3) interacting with investigators. We recommend that the leadership of biostatistics units negotiate for sufficient long-term infrastructure support to ensure stability and continuity of funding for personnel, align project budgets closely with actual level of biostatistical effort, devise and consistently apply strategies for prioritizing and tracking effort on studies, and clearly stipulate with investigators prior to project initiation policies regarding funding, lead time, and authorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Perkins
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University, School of Medicine and School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Peter Bacchetti
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia S Davey
- Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher J Lindsell
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Madhu Mazumdar
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; formerly at Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert A Oster
- Division of Preventative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Peter N Peduzzi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David M Rocke
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kyle D Rudser
- Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mimi Kim
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA
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Ograjenšek I, Gal I. Enhancing Statistics Education by Including Qualitative Research. Int Stat Rev 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/insr.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irena Ograjenšek
- Faculty of Economics; University of Ljubljana; Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Iddo Gal
- Department of Human Services; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
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Abstract
Statistical principles and methods are critical to the success of biomedical and translational research. However, it is difficult to track and evaluate the monetary value of a biostatistician to a medical school (SoM). Limited published data on this topic is available, especially comparing across SoMs. Using National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards and American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) faculty counts data (2010-2013), together with online information on biostatistics faculty from 119 institutions across the country, we demonstrated that the number of biostatistics faculty was significantly positively associated with the amount of NIH awards, both as a school total and on a per faculty basis, across various sizes of U.S. SoMs. Biostatisticians, as a profession, need to be proactive in communicating and advocating the value of their work and their unique contribution to the long-term success of a biomedical research enterprise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxiang Zhang
- Biostatistics and Data Management Core, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
| | - John J Chen
- Biostatistics and Data Management Core, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
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von Roten FC, de Roten Y. Statistics in science and in society: From a state-of-the-art to a new research agenda. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2013; 22:768-784. [PMID: 24048621 DOI: 10.1177/0963662513495769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Statistics occupies a prominent role in science and citizens' daily life. This article provides a state-of-the-art of the problems associated with statistics in science and in society, structured along the three paradigms defined by Bauer, Allum and Miller (2007). It explores in more detail medicine and public understanding of science on the one hand, and risks and surveys on the other. Statistics has received a good deal of attention; however, very often handled in terms of deficit - either of scientists or of citizens. Many tools have been proposed to improve statistical literacy, the image of and trust in statistics, but with little understanding of their roots, with little coordination among stakeholders and with few assessments of impacts. These deficiencies represent as many new and promising directions in which the PUS research agenda could be expanded.
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