Epidemiology-Biostatistics Research Support
Research and Teaching Services
- Study Design:
protocol and methods development, drafting of research plans, timeline
creation, sample size calculations.
- Data Analysis
and Interpretation: writing analysis plans, conducting
statistical analysis, creating data presentations, writing results
sections.
- Database
Design and Management: creation of relational and flat file
databases for data collection using techniques to maximize data
quality and built-in data quality checks.
- Survey Design:
survey creation, survey review and consultation, validation/pilot
testing.
-
Publications and Presentations: review and serve as co-authors
on papers for professional publications, and prepare poster
presentations using PowerPoint.
- Grant
Preparation: provide technical assistance and collaborate with
the EVMS Office of Research to assist faculty with grant writing.
- Protocol
Development: assist investigators in preparing protocols for
observational studies or large multi-center trials.
Authorship and Acknowledgments
If faculty of the
Epidemiology-Biostatistics Research Support contribute to the design or analysis of
a study, or help develop presentations or publications for the study,
they are to be included as authors. The faculty contributing these
services will review the final version of the presentation or
publication prior to submission. Guidelines for Authorship and Acknowledgments are set forth in the
New England Journal of Medicine, and we request that persons
requesting services from EBC faculty or staff review these guidelines.
Teaching Services
There is considerable expertise in the
biostatistical and epidemiological sciences among the EBC faculty. In
addition to ongoing teaching responsibilities for medical and health
professions students, faculty may be available on a limited basis to
provide individual lectures and seminars. Persons seeking such services
should complete the Request for Service Form
and email to EpiBio@evms.edu. Faculty may
also be available to develop and instruct full courses in different
aspects of biostatistics or epidemiology. To request these services, a
brief proposal should be attached to the form referenced above
describing the need for the course and the general content, the
department or organization sponsoring the course, the estimated number
of students, the start and end dates of the course, and the funding
source for the course. As a general rule, requests for new courses
should be submitted at least three months in advance.
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Study Design
EBC faculty have extensive experience
in diverse study designs including clinical trials, case-control, and
cross-sectional cohort studies, as well as multi-center trials. Be
prepared to discuss focused, reliable, measurable outcomes, and
affiliated variables, as well as details of possible interventions.
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Data Analysis
and Interpretation
Data analysis usually follows
data management, which helps to ensure data
integrity. In addition, IRB approval must be obtained before any data
will be analyzed. Any prior analysis protocols should be given to the
analyst at the first meeting and any corporate affiliations declared.
Authorship is expected for any results cited.
The request for data analysis must
specify which variables in the dataset should be used to answer the
questions. Be prepared to explain how data was collected, as this may
influence the interpretation of results. No general data mining will be
done without the express consent of the EBC Director.
Upon completion of the data analysis,
the requestor will receive a completed statistical methods section and
formatted results with tables/graphs as appropriate, unless specifically
requested otherwise. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to discuss
the interpretation of results.
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Database
Design and Management
Databases are constructed using Access
in MS Office 2000. The database is constructed so that a friendly data
interface is used for actual data collection, and extensive data
experience is not necessary to achieve the highest data quality and
integrity. Clients using MS Office 95 or earlier versions need to
highlight this on their Request for Service Form, and there may be some delay associated with conversion
of the file.
Data management encompasses data
cleaning, quality checks, formatting, and transference into alternative
data programs, including SAS, SPSS, Excel, Access, and others. Prior to
any data management, the current database must be in an electronic
format (no paper databases will be accepted) and accompanied by a
complete codebook. A codebook describes each variable name, description,
variable type, data ranges and codes. For example,
|
Variable Name |
Description |
Data Type |
Data Range |
Code |
|
Gender |
Patient gender |
String |
M, F |
M =
male
F = female |
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Survey Design
Our faculty can assist in designing
survey instruments that minimize respondent bias and burden, in multiple
formats including mail, telephone and personal interviews, and identify
sampling frames that provide the best possible coverage of any target
population. Assistance with the overall survey process can also be
obtained from members of the core offering advice on the number of
call-back attempts for telephone surveys, the type of mailed
questionnaires that are most useful, or the assignment of respondents to
personal interviewers, for example. Consultation can be given regarding
the use of focus groups for creating and/or validating survey
instruments.
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Publications
and Presentations
Abstract and manuscript preparation
assistance is available, but usually follows study design assistance
and/or data analysis. The requestor is responsible for a thorough
literature review and disclosure of all results. Data should be
available to confirm results cited. Please include meeting or journal
formatting requirements. Authorship is expected for significant
contributions.
Oral and poster presentation assistance
is available. Presentations are generated using MS PowerPoint, but can
be converted to slides if needed. Requests of this nature should be
accompanied by either an abstract with further supporting results or a
completed manuscript. Please include meeting requirements for length and
formatting specifications.
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Grant
Preparation
We have experience in assisting with
successful grant submissions with several agencies, including NIH, AAP
and others. Grant submissions usually involve study design and
statistical consulting and, whenever possible, the EBC faculty should be
involved in subsequent analysis plans and be included in the grant
budget. This is considered a highly interactive process that requires a
large time commitment from the requestor and top quality input from core
faculty, so please be prepared with all grant content and formatting
requirements.
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Protocol
Development
EBC faculty have written several
detailed protocols for small observational studies as well as large
multi-center trials. This request generally follows grant acceptance,
and samples can be produced. Staff are also available to serve on data
monitoring boards.
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