Why do you need a biostatistician?

Zapf, Antonia; Rauch, Geraldine; Kieser, Meinhard

doi:10.1186/s12874-020-0916-4

Cited by 21 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…When interpreting the findings from this literature synthesis, there are important considerations that should be taken into account. First, there was no methodologist or biostatistician on the study team, which may have adversely impacted protocol design and quality and risk of bias assessment [ 56 ]. Second, multiple individuals were involved in this project from article inclusion through to data synthesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesizing the literature on physical activity among children and adolescents affected by cancer: evidence for the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)

Wurz

McLaughlin

Lategan

et al. 2021

Translational Behavioral Medicine

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Physical activity (PA), including exercise, is safe and beneficial for children and adolescents affected by cancer. Yet, no efforts have been made to collate the breadth of review and experimental articles exploring the effects of PA in this cohort. Thus, a scoping review of review and experimental articles reporting on the effects of PA for children and adolescents affected by cancer was undertaken. Review and experimental articles published in English, summarizing or reporting on the effects of PA interventions for children and adolescents affected by cancer were included. Articles were identified through prior literature, systematic searching, reference list scanning, stakeholder engagement, and a database update. Data were extracted, collated, assessed for quality (reviews) or risk of bias (experimental articles), and summarized narratively. A total of 1,380 articles were identified; 20 review and 69 experimental articles were included. Articles explored PA behavior, physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and “other” outcomes. Improvements, no change, or mixed results were reported across the majority of outcomes explored. Two PA-related adverse events (e.g., a treatable injury, fatigue) were described. Included articles varied greatly in quality and risk of bias. Findings confirm that PA for children and adolescents affected by cancer is a rapidly growing field. More adequately powered research, focused on priority outcomes, adopting appropriate study designs, and adhering to reporting standards is required. Addressing these gaps will enable a better understanding of the effects of PA. Nevertheless, the literature confirms moving more is beneficial and safe for children and adolescents affected by cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesizing the literature on physical activity among children and adolescents affected by cancer: evidence for the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)

Wurz

McLaughlin

Lategan

et al. 2021

Translational Behavioral Medicine

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“…This is striking and may reflect an increase in the availability of software for non-statisticians to conduct meta-regression analysis. This underlines the importance of a collaboration with a statistician experienced in evidence synthesis when conducting meta-regression analyses [ 21 ]. In addition, we did not find evidence for a difference when comparing the years 2002 and 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Most published meta-regression analyses based on aggregate data suffer from methodological pitfalls: a meta-epidemiological study

Geissbühler

Hincapié

Aghlmandi

et al. 2021

BMC Med Res Methodol

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Background Due to clinical and methodological diversity, clinical studies included in meta-analyses often differ in ways that lead to differences in treatment effects across studies. Meta-regression analysis is generally recommended to explore associations between study-level characteristics and treatment effect, however, three key pitfalls of meta-regression may lead to invalid conclusions. Our aims were to determine the frequency of these three pitfalls of meta-regression analyses, examine characteristics associated with the occurrence of these pitfalls, and explore changes between 2002 and 2012. Methods A meta-epidemiological study of studies including aggregate data meta-regression analysis in the years 2002 and 2012. We assessed the prevalence of meta-regression analyses with at least 1 of 3 pitfalls: ecological fallacy, overfitting, and inappropriate methods to regress treatment effects against the risk of the analysed outcome. We used logistic regression to investigate study characteristics associated with pitfalls and examined differences between 2002 and 2012. Results Our search yielded 580 studies with meta-analyses, of which 81 included meta-regression analyses with aggregated data. 57 meta-regression analyses were found to contain at least one pitfall (70%): 53 were susceptible to ecological fallacy (65%), 14 had a risk of overfitting (17%), and 5 inappropriately regressed treatment effects against the risk of the analysed outcome (6%). We found no difference in the prevalence of meta-regression analyses with methodological pitfalls between 2002 and 2012, nor any study-level characteristic that was clearly associated with the occurrence of any of the pitfalls. Conclusion The majority of meta-regression analyses based on aggregate data contain methodological pitfalls that may result in misleading findings.

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“…Biostatistical methods are necessary for rigorous clinical and translational research [1]. For this reason, knowledge of and access to qualified biostatisticians, who can provide input on research design and statistical considerations, is highly valued within health research universities [2,3]. Research exists on the importance and the strategies of developing biostatistical collaborations in diverse academic centers but lacks the information on process and practical approaches to establish such a network [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing an Applied Biostatistical Sciences (ABS) network

Khalatbari

Jazdzyk

Capsouras

et al. 2020

J. Clin. Trans. Sci.

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Introduction: Access to qualified biostatisticians to provide input on research design and statistical considerations is critical for high-quality clinical and translational research. At diverse health science institutions, like the University of Michigan (U-M), biostatistical collaborators are scattered across the campus. This model can isolate applied statisticians, analysts, and epidemiologists from each other, which may negatively affect their career development and job satisfaction, and inhibits access to optimal biostatistical support for researchers. Furthermore, in the era of modern, complex translational research, it is imperative to elevate biostatistical expertise by offering innovative training. Methods: The Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research established an Applied Biostatistical Sciences (ABS) network that is a campus-wide community of staff and faculty statisticians, epidemiologists, data scientists, and researchers, with the intention of supporting both researchers and biostatisticians, while promoting high-quality clinical and translational research. Results: Since its inception in early 2018, the ABS Network has grown to several hundred faculty and staff members across a range of health and research disciplines. The ABS Network offers free trainings on innovative methods and tools in the biostatistical field, a web-based portal with resources and training lectures, and connections to U-M faculty and/or staff members for consultation and collaboration. Conclusions: Although challenging, if approached strategically, the creation of a collaboration network of biostatisticians can be accomplished. Furthermore, the process can be adopted and implemented for establishing collaboration with any network of professionals with common interests across different disciplines and professional fields regardless of size.

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Why do you need a biostatistician?

Cited by 21 publications

References 10 publications

Synthesizing the literature on physical activity among children and adolescents affected by cancer: evidence for the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)

Synthesizing the literature on physical activity among children and adolescents affected by cancer: evidence for the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)

Most published meta-regression analyses based on aggregate data suffer from methodological pitfalls: a meta-epidemiological study

Developing an Applied Biostatistical Sciences (ABS) network

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