Setting Sail for Synergy:

How to optimise the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers

The Alira Health Team are attending PHUSE EU Connect 2023! Join us on Sunday 5th November for our innovate game-storming workshop where we will explore the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers and perhaps even discover hidden treasure!

To support this workshop and increase its value potential, we are conducting wider research in order to gain diverse perspectives and opinions. We would greatly appreciate if you would complete this short survey. All respondents to the survey will receive the workshop notes and key takeaway results with actionable insights to help you optimise the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers in your own organisation and teams. Thank you very much for your support!

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* 1. Please define your current role

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* 2. What type of company do you currently work for?

Pharmaceutical

Biotech

CRO

Other (please specify)

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* 3. If you are a Biostatistician, how often do you have work related contact with Statistical Programmers? (vice versa if you are a Statistical Programmer)

On a daily basis

Frequently (2-4 times per week)

Infrequently (once a week)

Rarely (less than once a week)

Never

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* 4. In your current workplace, do Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers operate together under the same department or separately?

Separately, there is one department for Biostatistics and one for Statistical Programmers

Together, there is one department for both Biostatistics and Statistical Programming

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* 5. Have you ever worked in a company where the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers was not optimal and could be improved?

Yes

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* 6. What do you think are potential causes for a suboptimal relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers? (Select all the options that apply.)

Statistical Programmers do not fully understand the role of the Biostatistician

Statistical Programmers do not have a strong enough understanding of Statistics

Statistical Programmers do not communicate well with Biostatisticians

Statistical Programmers make statistical related decisions without conferring with Biostats

Statistical Programmers do not feel accountable for quality or on-time delivery

Statistical Programmers have poor Project Management skills and do not deliver on time

Biostatisticians do not fully understand the role of the Statistical Programmer

Biostatisticians do not have a strong enough understanding of SAS or R

Biostatisticians do not have enough time to promptly answer Statistical Programming questions

Biostatisticians do not have a strong enough understanding of CDISC

Biostatisticians do not communicate well with Statistical Programmers

Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers have different goals

Biostatisticians do not feel accountable for quality or on-time delivery

Biostatisticians have poor Project Management skills and do not deliver on time

Biostatisticians make programming related decisions without conferring with Statistical Programmers

Others - Please define

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* 7. If the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers is not working well, what do you think are the potential negative consequences for the company? (Please put them in order of importance.)

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* 8. In your current workplace, how would you rate the relationship between Biostatisticians and Statistical Programmers in terms of efficiency and quality?

5 - Symbiotic relationship: Both are able to anticipate the others requirements, no loss of efficiency, no loss of deliverable quality.

4 - Highly efficient relationship: Little wasted efficiency (in discussions, misunderstandings etc.) and minimal deliverable mistakes/issues attributable the relationship

3 - Efficient relationship: Acceptable or expected levels of efficiency and deliverable quality

2 - Inefficient relationship: Apparent wasted time from inefficient communication and misunderstandings, unacceptable deliverable mistakes attributable to the relationship

1 - No relationship: Both operate with no consideration for the other, major losses of efficiency and deliverable quality

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* 9. How could Biostatisticians improve their relationship with Statistical Programmers to reduce negative consequences for the company? (Select the three most important options.)

Improve their knowledge of the Statistical Programming role overall through training

Improve their knowledge of SAS through training

Improve their knowledge of CDISC through training

Improve communication skills through training

Improve their knowledge of other analysis technologies (e.g., R, Python) through training

Clearly define accountabilities with Statistical Programmers and agree who is responsible for what

Improve their knowledge of Project Management through training

Other - Please define

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* 10. How could Statistical Programmers improve their relationship with Biostatisticians to reduce negative consequences for the company? (Select the three most important options.)

Improve their knowledge of the Biostatistics role overall through training

Improve their knowledge of Statistics through training

Improve their knowledge of other analysis technologies (e.g., R, Python) through training

Improve communication skills through training

Clearly define accountabilities with Biostatisticians and agree who is responsible for what

Improve their knowledge of Project Management through training

Other - Please define

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* 11. How could managers help to improve the relationship between Statistical Programmers and Biostatisticians to reduce negative consequences for the company? (Select the three most important options.)

Improve trainings for both functions (SAS, CDISC, other technologies, soft skills)

Improve resourcing

Define the roles within the company very clearly, so that each function knows who is responsible for what

Clearly define expectations that Biostatisticians have of Statistical Programmers and vice versa, sharing these expectations with both departments

Other - Please define