Communicating complex statistical models to a public health audience: translating science into action with the FARSI approach

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Stival, Mattia, Schiavon, Lorenzo, Bertarelli, Gaia, Campostrini, Stefano
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Stival, Mattia
Schiavon, Lorenzo
Bertarelli, Gaia
Campostrini, Stefano
author_facet Stival, Mattia
Schiavon, Lorenzo
Bertarelli, Gaia
Campostrini, Stefano
contents Background. Effectively communicating complex statistical model outputs is a major challenge in public health. This study introduces the FARSI approach (Fast, Accessible, Reliable, Secure, Informative) as a framework to enhance the translation of intricate statistical findings into actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. We apply this framework in a real-world case study on chronic disease monitoring in Italy. Methods. The FARSI framework outlines key principles for developing user-friendly tools that improve the translation of statistical results. We applied these principles to create an open-access web application using R Shiny, designed to communicate chronic disease prevalence estimates from a Bayesian spatio-temporal logistic model. The case study highlights the importance of an intuitive design for fast accessibility, validated data and expert feedback for reliability, aggregated data for security, and insights into prevalence population subgroups, which were previously unobservable, for informativeness. Results. The web application enables stakeholders to explore disease prevalence across populations and geographical area through dynamic visualizations. It facilitates public health monitoring by, for instance, identifying disparities at the local level and assessing risk factors such as smoking. Its user-friendly interface enhances accessibility, making statistical findings more actionable. Conclusions. The FARSI framework provides a structured approach to improving the communication of complex research findings. By making statistical models more accessible and interpretable, it supports evidence-based decision-making in public health and increases the societal impact of research.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_06787
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Communicating complex statistical models to a public health audience: translating science into action with the FARSI approach
Stival, Mattia
Schiavon, Lorenzo
Bertarelli, Gaia
Campostrini, Stefano
Other Statistics
Applications
Methodology
Background. Effectively communicating complex statistical model outputs is a major challenge in public health. This study introduces the FARSI approach (Fast, Accessible, Reliable, Secure, Informative) as a framework to enhance the translation of intricate statistical findings into actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. We apply this framework in a real-world case study on chronic disease monitoring in Italy. Methods. The FARSI framework outlines key principles for developing user-friendly tools that improve the translation of statistical results. We applied these principles to create an open-access web application using R Shiny, designed to communicate chronic disease prevalence estimates from a Bayesian spatio-temporal logistic model. The case study highlights the importance of an intuitive design for fast accessibility, validated data and expert feedback for reliability, aggregated data for security, and insights into prevalence population subgroups, which were previously unobservable, for informativeness. Results. The web application enables stakeholders to explore disease prevalence across populations and geographical area through dynamic visualizations. It facilitates public health monitoring by, for instance, identifying disparities at the local level and assessing risk factors such as smoking. Its user-friendly interface enhances accessibility, making statistical findings more actionable. Conclusions. The FARSI framework provides a structured approach to improving the communication of complex research findings. By making statistical models more accessible and interpretable, it supports evidence-based decision-making in public health and increases the societal impact of research.
title Communicating complex statistical models to a public health audience: translating science into action with the FARSI approach
topic Other Statistics
Applications
Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.06787