Workshop overview

Malaria research encompasses various types of studies (e.g., involving human populations or vector populations) that involve the use of statistics. In studies involving the collection of primary data, it is essential to determine the sample size (n). Sample size is a functional relationship defined by the research objectives, the study design, and the various requirements inherent in sampling plans and the statistical methods to be used for inference, differing depending on whether the study is, for example, cross-sectional or longitudinal. Thus, there is no “magic formula,” but rather hundreds of closed-form formulas or approximate solutions that guide us in the initial planning, focusing on the research objectives, yet without forgetting that there are sometimes gaps between what is desirable in theory and what is possible in practice.

Currently, there are several international guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, STARD) that emphasize the requirement to justify sample size, thereby facilitating peer review and scientific reproducibility. However, not all published studies carefully adhere to this crucial step. In the scientific literature, studies continue to be published that were not adequately powered to detect, for example, the impact of an intervention, resulting in an inconclusive outcome without distinguishing whether this is due to a lack of statistical power or the ineffectiveness of the intervention. This scenario leads to a waste of resources and compromises research ethics by exposing populations to protocols that, from the outset, lack the robustness to generate valid scientific knowledge.

This workshop aims to equip participants with the skills needed to carefully plan sample sizes, integrating statistical requirements with the multifaceted context of malaria research. The session will include a theoretical component and a practical component involving calculations and simulations using the R software.

For the practical portion, participants must install R Studio and the relevant packages in advance; basic familiarity with the software is required. 

Workshop organized in collaboration with the Biometria da Sociedade Portuguesa de Estatística.

Computational resources

R software and the relevant packages. : : Download: https://cran.r-project.org/index.html

Languages

More information soon

REGISTRATION FOR THE WORKSHOP

You can register for the workshop at the moment that you register for the Conference.
If you're already registered for the Conference, but not for this Workshop, please send us an email to info@malarianospalop.org with the subject: 4th Edition Malária nos PALOP - Workshop #2.

For any questions related to the workshop, please contact info@malarianospalop.org.

The Instructor