Qualitative analysis of the interdisciplinary interaction between data analysis specialists and novice clinical researchers.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The inherent complexity of statistical methods and clinical phenomena
compel researchers with diverse domains of expertise to work in interdisciplinary
teams, where none of them have a complete knowledge in their counterpart's field.
As a result, knowledge exchange may often be characterized by miscommunication leading
to misinterpretation, ultimately resulting in errors in research and even clinical
practice. Though communication has a central role in interdisciplinary collaboration
and since miscommunication can have a negative impact on research processes, to the
best of our knowledge, no study has yet explored how data analysis specialists and
clinical researchers communicate over time. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted
qualitative analysis of encounters between clinical researchers and data analysis
specialists (epidemiologist, clinical epidemiologist, and data mining specialist).
These encounters were recorded and systematically analyzed using a grounded theory
methodology for extraction of emerging themes, followed by data triangulation and
analysis of negative cases for validation. A policy analysis was then performed using
a system dynamics methodology looking for potential interventions to improve this
process. Four major emerging themes were found. Definitions using lay language were
frequently employed as a way to bridge the language gap between the specialties. Thought
experiments presented a series of "what if" situations that helped clarify how the
method or information from the other field would behave, if exposed to alternative
situations, ultimately aiding in explaining their main objective. Metaphors and analogies
were used to translate concepts across fields, from the unfamiliar to the familiar.
Prolepsis was used to anticipate study outcomes, thus helping specialists understand
the current context based on an understanding of their final goal. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE:
The communication between clinical researchers and data analysis specialists presents
multiple challenges that can lead to errors.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Biomedical ResearchHumans
Interdisciplinary Communication
Interprofessional Relations
Models, Theoretical
Peer Review, Research
Qualitative Research
Research Design
Research Personnel
Surveys and Questionnaires
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4528Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1371/journal.pone.0009400Publication Info
Zammar, Guilherme Roberto; Shah, Jatin; Ferreira, Ana Paula Bonilauri; Cofiel, Luciana;
Lyles, Kenneth W; & Pietrobon, Ricardo (2010). Qualitative analysis of the interdisciplinary interaction between data analysis specialists
and novice clinical researchers. PLoS One, 5(2). pp. e9400. 10.1371/journal.pone.0009400. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4528.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Kenneth Ward Lyles
Professor of Medicine
My research activities focus on understanding ways that osteoporotic fractures affect
people and trying to learn ways to reduce their impact on affected individuals and
prevent further fractures. I have worked with patient with hip and vertebral fractures,
gaining insight into the impairments such fractures cause. Also we have learned that
a hip fracture is a major risk factor for subsequent fractures after the initial hip
fracture. Our group completed a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

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