What is Biostatistics and What Do We Know About It?

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Statistics as a subject or a field of work is something that simply cannot be quantified within a certain limit. There are just so many aspects to this topic, it is almost inconceivable for a single person to know about all of them, yet alone master them.

 If you think about it carefully enough, you will realize that this is only natural.

Before getting into any shenanigans, let us first discuss statistics in general. What is it? What is statistics really? In the simplest of terms, statistics refers to the study of numbers and drawing conclusion from said numbers. Almost everything in this world can be quantified to a certain degree with the help of a numeric value.

Understanding what that value suggests in the real world, in the grand scheme of things, is what this field of learning is all about. There are plenty of nuances which need to be addressed when studying statistics, most of which are a direct result of the sheer variety of different types available out there. One of the various fields of statistics that you can learn about is Biostatistics.

Everything that you read from here on in will be dedicated to exploring this very interesting topic and what implications it has on the world today. There are plenty of things to discuss about biostatistics. After all, it is only until recently that this field has really come into the limelight and people are finally discussing it with the enthusiasm it deserves.

What is it?

So, what exactly is biostatistics? If you are observant enough, you can take a good guess. It comes from two words basically – bio as in the workings of the human body and statistics as in the study of numbers. Put them together and what you have is the very definition of biostatistics.

Simply put, biostatistics refers to the interpretation of scientific data which is generated from health sciences and similar biological reports. As you can see, it is very useful in helping people deal with their health and make themselves the best version of themselves. After all, how else is medicine practiced? There needs to be a numeric value after all to get an idea about everything.

There is plenty of information available on health reports which are made in hospitals. A lot of analysis is done in order to come up with such reports to begin with. But sometimes even seasoned practitioners can struggle to come up with a precise conclusion from everything given in such reports.

This is precisely where biostatistics comes into play to try and make things better. It uses statistical methods to draw inferences from said information and use them wisely for the betterment of the patient. There are plenty of instances when researches in this field collaborate with scientists and other types of researchers.

You will also be pleased to know that with the help of this new tool, a lot of new health issues have been discovered in the recent past. Some of them are as follows:

  • Cancer
  • AIDS
  • Chronic Diseases
  • Growth and Development issues
  • Genetic problems

It is basically the next step in the advancement of the field of medicine and everything involved within it. It’s very interesting given the fact that this is not even directly related to medicine to begin with.

Biostatisticians

If you know what biostatistics is, you should be able to have a fair idea of who biostatisticians are. In layman terms, these are the people who specialise in biostatistics and make them all work together. It is their area of expertise and it allows them to take on complex mathematical problems and apply them to the field of medicine. A lot is gained in the public health sector with the help of these people.

So what is their work exactly? The general idea about their duties is that they combine mathematics and science to influence biology and medicine. But there is a little more to it than just that. Let’s take a look at some of the things that biostatisticians are meant to do.

  • They study the numbers related to the evaluation of treatment procedures, screening sessions and various other methods on large populations. It helps analyse the overall effects of these methods on varying amounts of people, thus allowing for more information related to the given subject.
  • They also study the various causes of different diseases in the human body and what can be done to make them go away or at the very least treat them properly. The origins of the diseases are also considered and analysed in an attempt to understand them better and potentially prevent them from happening altogether.
  • The genetic differences between human beings is also something that warrants a study. Our genes are the key to unlock plenty of different answers, some of which we cannot even imagine right now. There are also plenty of different diseases associated with genes which is what makes this so important.
  • Spatial studies related to diseases is also something that is a huge deal in this field. There are so many statistics available these days, it is even possible to analyse the distribution of various diseases in the body and possibly know about them beforehand.

As you can see, biostatisticians have a ton of responsibility on their shoulders. Even after a certain conclusion is made with regards to a given fact, a lot of work needs to be put in for making it come to fruition. Conducting health related experiments, managing any sort of emergency and ensuring the safety of everyone involved is what this job is all about.

If you were thinking of a career in this line of work, you should feel free to do so. It is an upcoming line of work that has a lot of potential to it. The more people realize how amazing and fulfilling this job is, the more they’ll flock towards this as a career option. And that can never be a bad thing whatsoever.

A Potential Career Path?

So what exactly are the odds of making it as a biostatistician? How prosperous is this line of work? Are there any things that you need to be aware of before you dive into this field? Is it even worth pursuing such a line of work to begin with? We will help you answer all of these questions so keep reading. Long story short, it is definitely worth looking at biostatistics as a future career path. Here are some of the reasons why that is so.

  1. Inter-discipline

One of the best things about biostatistics is that it is inter-disciplinary in nature. This means that it involves work between various fields and disciplines in order to achieve a common goal. The very nature of this subject is what causes it to be this way. As mentioned way before, it involves a mixture of statistics and biology which naturally means people from both these lines of work need to work together.

For those who appreciate such kinds of collaborative work, this is the perfect career option for you. You will be required to work with people from a variety of other fields as a compulsion. Such an interaction allows you to learn more and more about things you did not know otherwise. As such, it is a field where growth is natural from the very onset.

From many people, this inter-disciplinary nature of the subject is what attracts them here in the first place. If you are such a person, this will feel right at home without a shadow of a doubt. I mean who wouldn’t want to combine math and biology into one subject and get to meet people from both worlds on a regular basis?

  • Research Potential

The human body is a construct that is still being explored on a daily basis. Even after all these years, new facts are being discovered regularly. As such, the potential for discovering something ground-breaking here is huge to say the least. If research is what you are good at or want to do for a living, there is no better field to practice this in.

The scope for conducting research is practically infinite. There are so many drugs available in the market and so many conditions to test them in, it is literally impossible to run out of things to research on. The chances of stumbling upon something really useful is also thus very high. Who knows, perhaps the next noble prize belongs to you?

Does the ring of that sound appealing to you? If so, you know where to go.

  • Real World Issues

If you are someone who is practical in nature and wants to address things that happen in real life, then biostatistics will provide you that as well. The thing about this subject is that it is completely practical whether you like it or not. I mean, of course you like it otherwise you would not even be here in the first place right?

This is the basic advantage of anything related to statistics. All of the numbers that you see are derived from the real world out there. As such, when you work on them, you are actually trying to solve a problem in real life. It deals with cold hard facts and tries to find out solutions that deal appropriately with any problems that arise from said facts.

Even when you think that you are not doing something serious or pulse pounding, you are actually helping the world is some form or the other. That is the kind of accomplishment that you can feel if you pursue this line of work. If you like what you are hearing, then this is definitely something that you should consider taking up as a full time job.

  • Constant Challenge

Another thing that you will appreciate a lot in this line of work is that it is constantly pressing you to make yourself better. After all, there is no end to the problems that appear in real life. As such, there will always be something that you can sink your teeth into no matter what. You will always be able to get that nerd stimulation that you want so badly at all times.

The best part about something like this is that it always keeps you busy at all times. Even if solving problems is not your thing, you can be sure that you will always be kept busy at doing something. If anything, there is a certainty regarding the fact that you simply will not be bored no matter what. How many job opportunities can promise you something like that? If not being bored is what you want, this is it.

  • Continuous Growth

Yet another fact about biostatistics is that it’s still something that is yet to be in its prime. It has only been growing until recently and as things stand, there is much more room to grow even further. The scope is simply huge and you won’t find yourself wanting for more. There is nothing in terms of opportunity that you will not find here if this is your line of work.

Not only that, the pay grade here is also top notch. It’s not as if you have to live off scraps just because your line of work will be mostly research. Salaries can go well and beyond the $100,000 mark if you can just do your thing well enough. Find the right position for yourself and you will do as good as you want to. With a bit of experience, you will grow further more both in terms of the knowledge and the money earnt.

Author Bio:

With a degree in MBA from the Harvard School of Business, Nancie L Beckett is one of the most knowledgeable people to know in this line of work. She knows the ins and outs like no one else due to her 6 year experience in the practical world. If there is anything you want to know, now is the time.

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