10+ Statistical Programmer Interview Questions and Answers

Clinical research is the study of drugs, devices, and treatments in humans to determine their safety and effectiveness.

• Clinical trials are conducted in phases to ensure safety and efficacy of the drug or treatment.

• Phase 1: Small group of healthy volunteers to determine safety and dosage.

• Phase 2: Larger group of patients to determine efficacy and side effects.

• Phase 3: Even larger group of patients to confirm efficacy and monitor adverse reactions.

• Phase 4: Post-marketing survei...read more

Mean in data step calculates mean within data step while proc means calculates mean for entire dataset.

• Mean in data step is calculated within the data step and only for the variables specified in the data step.

• Proc means calculates mean for the entire dataset or for the variables specified in the var statement.

• Data step mean can be used for conditional calculations while proc means is used for overall summary statistics.

The argument used to modify variables in proc report is 'define'.

• Use the 'define' statement in proc report to modify variables.

• The 'define' statement allows you to customize the appearance and behavior of variables in the report.

• You can use options like 'format', 'order', 'width', 'style', etc. within the 'define' statement.

• Example: define age / display format=comma10. order=data;

• Example: define gender / display style(column)={background=lightblue};

If aeout = fatal, aedeath flag should be set to yes

• Set aedeath flag to yes if aeout is fatal

• Ensure consistency in coding practices for fatal outcomes

• Document the logic behind setting aedeath flag based on aeout value

Proc transpose is a SAS procedure used to restructure data from a long format to a wide format.

• Proc transpose is used to pivot data from rows to columns or vice versa.

• The BY statement in proc transpose is used to specify one or more variables that define groups in the input data.

• The BY statement is optional and is used to create separate output datasets for each BY group.

• Example: proc transpose data=input_data out=output_data prefix=var; by group; id variable; var value;

Different types of functions include linear, quadratic, exponential, trigonometric, and logarithmic functions.

• Linear functions have a constant rate of change, such as f(x) = 2x + 3.

• Quadratic functions have a squared term, such as f(x) = x^2 + 3x + 2.

• Exponential functions have a constant ratio between successive values, such as f(x) = 2^x.

• Trigonometric functions involve sine, cosine, and tangent, such as f(x) = sin(x).

• Logarithmic functions are the inverse of exponential functi...read more

Clinical study phases are stages of research that a new drug or treatment must go through before it can be approved for use.

• Phase 1: Small group of healthy volunteers to test safety and dosage

• Phase 2: Larger group to test effectiveness and side effects

• Phase 3: Even larger group to confirm effectiveness, monitor side effects, and compare to existing treatments

• Phase 4: Post-marketing studies to monitor long-term effects and safety

Data step is used to read, manipulate, and create datasets in SAS. Proc step is used to analyze and report on datasets.

• Data step is used to read data from external sources, manipulate data, and create new datasets.

• Proc step is used to analyze and report on datasets created in the data step.

• Data step uses statements like SET, MERGE, IF-THEN, and OUTPUT to manipulate data.

• Proc step uses procedures like PROC MEANS, PROC FREQ, and PROC PRINT to analyze and report on data.

• Example:...read more

Sum is a function that calculates the total of a set of numbers, while + is an operator that adds two numbers together.

• Sum is a built-in function in many programming languages that calculates the total of a set of numbers.

• + is an operator used to add two numbers together in mathematical operations.

• Example: sum(1, 2, 3) = 6, 1 + 2 = 3

Domains such as healthcare, insurance, and public health typically have death details.

• Healthcare

• Insurance

• Public health