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Ensuring valid and transparent statistical practices in infectious disease research: A practical review
1Centre of Regenerative Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
Summary
Statistical rigor in infectious disease research is crucial for valid findings and public health. This review offers practical guidance on selecting, applying, and reporting statistical methods for improved research quality.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Infectious Disease Research
Background:
- Suboptimal statistical methods and reporting are common in infectious disease research.
- This impacts the validity of findings and public health decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present key statistical methods for infectious disease research.
- To emphasize practical application and appropriate reporting of these methods.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of selected recent infectious disease studies.
- Illustration of statistical practice using representative examples.
Main Results:
- Valid inference requires alignment between research objectives, study design, data, and analytical methods.
- Transparent reporting, justified choices, and assumption assessment are vital.
- Methods must adapt to infectious disease data and complex questions; interpretation needs clinical relevance.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing statistical rigor and transparency improves study design, analysis, and interpretation.
- A practice-oriented framework supports consistent statistical methods in infectious disease research.
- Training, global support, and reporting standards can advance statistical practice.
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