Medical Research Consultations: Recommendations for Biostatisticians in Managing and Conducting Medical Research Consultations

By Mohamad Adam Bujang

One of the determining factors for a successful research output is the design of the research itself. Thus, a researcher, a methodologist or an epidemiologist and a biostatistician may each have his/her own perspective of how to optimize the design of research, by playing an active role in both planning and conducting the research. Therefore, this e-book emphasizes the importance of the role of a biostatistician in managing and conducting research consultations mainly for research that revolves around the medical field.

Successful biostatistics consultation requires a collection of technical and collaborative skills. The full spectrum of biostatistical consulting skills are rarely taught in training programs. However, by acquiring all the relevant skills for biostatistical consultation, one can continue to hone such skills by learning and gaining relevant experience throughout one’s career.

The discussion is divided into five sections: Essential consulting skills for biostatisticians; Begins with an initial evaluation of the research proposal; Techniques to improve subject matter knowledge during consultation process; Tips to provide an optimal biostatistical consulting service; and Tips to enhance research consultation skills. The discussion is useful for both beginners and also for current professionals aiming to enhance their research consultation skills.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Institute for Clinical Research, NIH MY
• Release date: Oct 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005545895

Mohamad Adam Bujang

Dr. Mohamad Adam Bujang is a Research Officer at the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR), Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Having received his Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from MARA University of Technology in 2004, Dr. Mohamad Adam undertook his postgraduate study, receiving his Master’s degree (MBA) in 2008, and then at the same university, receiving his PhD (Information Technology and Quantitative Sciences) in 2017. Currently he is working as a biostatistician and researcher in the Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital. His ongoing research interests involve the research methodology such as sampling techniques, sample size planning, and statistical analyses. He has completed many research projects with local and international publications. He is actively involved in research training, reviewer for number of journals and also one of the active members in Malaysia Institute of Statistics (ISM) and Association of Clinical Registries Malaysia (ACRM).Contact detailsDr Mohamad Adam BujangResearch Officer,Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General HospitalEmail address: [e-mail]: 082-276820 & Fax: [phone]Research contributionshttps://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wfdvW4UAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=aohttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohamad_Adam_Bujang

Book preview

Recommendations for Biostatisticians in Managing and Conducting Medical Research Consultations

By

Mohamad Adam Bujang

Editor

Prof. Dr. Jamalludin Ab Rahman

Published by Institute for Clinical Research, NIH MY, 2020.

© INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (ICR), Mohamad Adam Bujang. 2020

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. The author retains the sole copyright ownership of this e-book. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain prior permission from either the author or the Director of Institute for Clinical Research, Ministry of Health, Malaysia in order to reuse the content(s) of this e-book/book and/or to reproduce the content(s) of this e-book in any form. However, the author wishes for this e-book/book to serve as a very useful and not-for-sale reference for managing and conducting medical research consultations.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BIOSTATISTICIANS IN MANAGING AND CONDUCTING MEDICAL RESEARCH CONSULTATIONS

First edition. October 1, 2020.

Front cover design by Chew Cheng Hoon

Published by Institute for Clinical Research, NIH,

Ministry of Health Malaysia

ISBN: 9781005545895/9781393578536 (International), 9789671694015 (Malaysia)

DOI : doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4098274

Written by

Dr. Mohamad Adam Bujang

Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital

Institute for Clinical Research

Ministry of Health Malaysia

Editor

Prof. Dr. Jamalludin Ab Rahman

Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

International Islamic University Malaysia

Table of Contents

Table, Figures and Image

Abbreviations

Preface

Acknowledgement

1. Introduction

2. Essential Consulting Skills for Biostatisticians

3. Research Consultation Begins with an Initial Evaluation of the Research Study: Three Essential Questions

3.1 First question: Please describe your study

3.2 Second question: How the study will add value and who will benefit from it?

3.3 Third question: Has the research question been previously considered or is it pioneering a new branch of study?

4. Techniques to Improve the Subject Matter Knowledge During a Consultation Process

4.1 Time and event visualization

4.2 Conceptual framework

5. Tips to Provide an Optimal Biostatistical Consulting Service

5.1 To identify the needs and expectations of the research client

5.2 To be frank with the research client prior to offering a biostatistical consultation

5.3 To make use of appropriate tool(s) to assist in the biostatistical consultation process

6. Tips to Enhance Research Consultation Skills

6.1 A concerted effort to continuously seeking for new knowledge and skill sets

6.2 The need for a biostatistician to specialise in niche areas

6.3 To be guided by a mentor or an effective mentoring network

6.4 To actively participate in research and scholarly work

6.5 To become a mentor or educator in biostatistics

7. Other Matters Arising

7.1 Collaboration and co-authorship

7.2 To elicit feedback from research clients

8. Summary

9. References

About the Author

About the Publisher

Table, Figures and Image

Table 1: Scope of core competencies and skills for a competent biostatistician

Figure 1: An illustration of the temporal relationship between the important processes or events that have occurred for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

Figure 2: The connection between Time Event Visualization (TEV) and Conceptual Framework (CF) which delineates the association between a possible risk factor(s)