Health-related research generates large and challenging data sets. Investigating existing research is also becoming an increasingly challenging task. This is where a biostatistician like Dr Denis Visentin becomes an invaluable collaborator for health researchers at the University of Tasmania.

‘It’s essential that data is collected, organised and used in a way that allows researchers to understand what has already been done, so they can consider what’s worth pursuing,’ says Dr Denis Visentin, lecturer in Health Physics in the School of Health Sciences and degree coordinator for medical radiation science students at the University.

One way to understand data is to simplify it into a model that can then be tested. Simulations can be run to test what happens when variables change.

‘I’ve always been interested in using data to develop models of complex systems,’ says Dr Visentin.

Dr Visentin came to this role after completing a PhD in nuclear physics and later retraining as a biostatistician. He now uses his biostatistical knowledge, modelling and critical thinking skills to work with health researchers to ensure that quantitative data is well understood – Was it collected properly? Is it reliable? What does it tell us? What is missing?

‘I love working in the field of health sciences because I can be a part of research projects that are complex and important; analysing data in studies on critical care, mental health, chronic disease, exercise and ageing. These problems are at least as interesting as the “big science” of nuclear fusion where I started.’

Dr Visentin has a particular interest in improving what he calls health numeracy in the wider community and with clinicians and researchers.

‘Health numeracy is the ability to understand health-related statistical information. I would love for everyone to see a health-related story in the newspaper, for example, and to understand enough to question whether it’s good quality information and to be able to use it to improve their own lives.’

For example, questions people might ask: Are the subjects in the study relevant to me? Are they talking about causation or correlation? What’s my personal likelihood of having this problem and how should I change my personal behaviour?

If the general public is more numerate, they can have better conversations with their clinicians. If clinicians understand statistics, they can talk to researchers more effectively. Researchers can talk to biostatisticians, and so on.

‘Statistics is an integral part of modern research – especially with clinicians. If you’re a doctor, physiotherapist or medical scientist, for example, you rely on systematic reviews and meta analyses in order to get an overview of what the real evidence is. You simply couldn’t keep up the mass of information yourself, much less do the analyses to see what it tells us when we aggregate all the various studies on a particular subject.’

‘I encourage my students and colleagues to talk to a statistician in the study design phase. These early conversations can help to develop robust studies with the right survey instruments. They’ll be able to ask better questions and collect the right information to answer those questions.’

Dr Visentin enjoys the true multidisciplinary approach to research at the School of Health Sciences because it allows him to be meaningfully involved in many different areas of research and to apply his expertise to lots of different problems.

‘It’s far more satisfying to be part of the team, involved in research from beginning to end, rather than getting called in at the end to perform analysis and finding that the data doesn’t answer the research question.’

Dr Visentin is keen to get involved in innovative projects that use technology for behaviour change, particularly using feedback. This allows the technology to provide the users with feedback about their health or performance, while also providing data that can be analysed.