A checklist for effective data communication
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s discussion of remdesivir trials on April 29 is a masterclass in effective data communication. An annotated breakdown of his five-minute exposition reveals seven keys and steps to effectively share complicated analyses to diverse audiences. While not an exhaustive checklist, it is a useful playbook to help us structure compelling data narratives.
1. Describe the research and analyses conducted. Fauci begins by describing how the research was conducted. “It was a randomized placebo-control trial comparing the Gilead drug remdesivir with a placebo. It was highly powered with about a thousand plus individuals. It was the first truly high powered randomized placebo trial. It was an international trial involving multiple sites.” He emphasizes specifics of the trial that differentiate it from previous research — its rigorous scientific design (randomized placebo-control), strong statistical power (over a thousand respondents), and robust sample (international trial conducted not just in the US but other countries).
2. Define the key metric or performance indicator. Next, he defines the key metric or performance indicator (KPI) the analyses focused on. “The primary end point was time to recovery, namely the ability to be discharged.” By identifying the main measure of interest, he defines the evidential standard that will determine a successful outcome of the research.
3. Highlight key findings. Fauci then highlights key findings from the trial. “Remdesivir has a significant positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery…11 days compared to 15 days [in the control group]. It has a p value, for the scientists who are listening, of 0.001.” It is important to share appropriate detail about the analyses for different audiences. For general public audiences, Fauci describes the shorter recovery time for those who receive remdesivir; and for the medical and public health audiences, he emphasizes that the difference in recovery time is statistically significant.
4. Interpret findings. Beyond stating findings, he provides interpretation so that audiences understand its significance. “Altogether a 31% improvement does not seem like a knockout 100%, it is a very important proof of concept. Because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus.” He anticipates the “so what” response that often arises when findings are shared and explains how these findings show that tangible progress is being made in the search for medical treatments for covid-19.
5. Contextualize the significance of the research. To contextualize the significance of these findings, Fauci draws on previous experience and makes a parallel between ongoing efforts and “34 years ago in 1986 when we were struggling for drugs for HIV. And we had nothing. And it was a lot of anecdotal reports about things, that maybe did work, maybe did not. People were taking different kinds of drugs. And we did the first randomized placebo trial with AZT, which turned out to give an effect that was modest. But that was not the end game. Because building on that, every year after, we did better and better.” Analogies to previous research not only reveal expertise but further validates the hopeful implications Fauci is making from the data. Given his experience in leading the public health campaign against HIV, we can have confidence that Fauci’s optimism about remdesivir in the ongoing campaign against covid-19 is justified.
6. Discuss implications for further research. Research does not occur in a vacuum, and findings should inform how other research is analyzed or planned. To that end, Fauci explains how these findings are “The [new] standard of care. And in fact, when we look at the other trials we are doing…we’re going to now compare the combination of remdesivir with this, so as drugs come in, we’re going to see if we can add on that.” He emphasizes that these findings are so significant that they will change the evidential standards further research will be judged by.
7. Detail next steps. Finally, Fauci describes next steps. “You’re going to hear more details about this. This will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal, and will be peer reviewed appropriately.” Recognizing that these findings will require further validation, he confirms that detailed results will be released and further tested through the peer review process.
While the stakes of our work are unlikely to be as high as those leading efforts to combat covid-19, his masterclass can teach us key lessons to apply in our own specific contexts. By applying the seven principles of this checklist, we can become more effective data communicators and better communicate key findings and actionable insights to our clients, stakeholders, and constituents.