Clinical biostatistics is a branch of statistics that deals with the use of biostatistics in clinical trials. Clinical trials are designed to be scientifically rigorous in order for the data generated to be meaningful, useful to other scientists, and widely accepted by the scientific community. Clinical biostatistics, which play a role in everything from the early planning stages of the trial to the data analysis, is an important part of making clinical trials successful.
Clinical biostatisticians typically have a master’s degree in biostatistics and may have specialized in clinical biostatistics during their studies. Statistical techniques are used to collect, interpret, and understand scientific data in this field, which combines biology and mathematics. Several software companies have created clinical biostatistics programs with features tailored to the unique requirements of clinical trials.
Clinical biostatistics is used to develop an appropriate pool of study subjects and to randomize trial participants for the creation of a blind study during the planning stages of a clinical trial. Randomization is a critical component of clinical trials because it allows researchers to compare the outcomes of different groups that were created at random rather than on purpose. Once the trial is up and running, biostatistics software can be used to collect data, and clinical biostatistics comes into play during the data analysis phase when the evidence is interpreted and discussed.
Statistical analysis is an important part of clinical trials because it allows researchers to see if their findings were statistically significant. For example, anecdotal evidence from a trial with a new antibiotic may appear to suggest that the antibiotic was effective, but a statistical review of trial participants may reveal that the placebo was just as effective, or that so many trial participants experienced severe side effects that the antibiotic would not be considered a viable treatment by the medical community.
Labs can use specialist firms that provide biostatistics services to interpret their data. Third-party analysis can help researchers validate their findings by ensuring that the statisticians involved are impartial, and it can also allow them to explore complex statistical models and other options that they might not have had access to otherwise. Clinical biostatisticians can also be kept on staff by researchers to evaluate ongoing clinical trials. Clinical biostatistics is also occasionally used in epidemiology, where a biostatistician can help make sense of data that would otherwise be confusing.