Data Visualization in PowerPoint: Best Practices for Presenting Clinical Trial Results

Dealing with data and statistics to represent clinical trial results is challenging and sometimes stressful.

This process is time-consuming, but presenting data accurately, clearly, and effectively is essential.

PowerPoint still serves this purpose effectively and efficiently, providing flexible features for presenting information with graphics.  

This blog post provides guidelines explaining how to present clinical trial results using data visualization in PowerPoint.

Why It Is Necessary to Present Data Graphically During Clinical Trials  

Enhancing understanding and clarity  

Make sure to use clear and descriptive labels along with your medical presentation.  

To give your presentation a professional look, keep the font sizes large enough to read from a distance and stick to a few font styles.  

This approach will make it easier for your audience to grasp the data. Improving audience engagement  

Charts, graphs, and infographics make presentations more engaging and accessible to recall; great-performing charts and graphs complement key messages when presenting.

Supporting decision-making  

Dealing with dry data may be confusing; you cannot quickly analyze data to interpret results best. Unfortunately, in most cases, the decision is made based on a deep understanding of the results, so representing the data clearly and simply is critical.

Precise and accurate data presentation can help people make proper decisions. When trial information and results are presented with clear visuals, all stakeholders will be better positioned to make some of the critical decisions within clinical trial processes, particularly in developing new therapeutic products.

Challenges In Clinical Trial Data Presentation  

Dealing with large volumes of data in clinical trials is challenging; medical data is sensitive and needs unique treatments; many obstacles will arise when you deal with medical data, like the following.

Complexity of data  

Most of the trial data is sometimes complex and contains numerous details. Presenters are then forced to simplify the different aspects into simple-to-understand items and figures without sacrificing the fundamental facts that depict the study’s conclusions.

So in this case it is better to learn PowerPoint skills or save time and outsource this presentation to a medical design agency.

Need to balance scientific accuracy and visual appeal

Finding the perfect balance between precision and visual appeal in graphic design is a challenge.

As a medical researcher, you see that the data must be visually appealing enough to make it easy for the audience to understand, but keeping the scientific accuracy of data is a priority.

Best Data Visualization Practices in Clinical Trial Presentations 

The number of research and clinical trials is increasing in a world facing critical health challenges, so sharing the best data visualization practices in clinical trial presentations is more important today than ever.

In the next section, we provide general tips that you should consider as a medical research presenter in your next presentation.

1. Choose the right visuals.

Choosing the correct type of graphic is pivotal to maximizing the potential of communicating clinical trial information.

Choose graphics according to the kind of data; for example, use bar graphics for nominal data and line graphics for trend data.  

Here are some common types of visuals and their best uses  

Bar charts    

it will be used to compare data grouped into two or more categories, such as participants in different treatment groups.

Line charts  

It is ideal for demonstrating the movement in a variable of interest over time, such as patient outcomes changes during different trial phases.

Pie charts    

Appropriate for showing parts of a whole, for example, the outcome of a survey of side effects.

Scatter plots 

It is beneficial for investigating the correlation between dosage and patient outcomes.

Tables    

It is most suitable for use when a specific point or value is needed, for instance, in populations, sample statistics, or other quantifiable data.

2. Use clear and consistent labelling.  

It helps eliminate confusion for your audience and makes it easy for them to understand the critical data presented.

Descriptive labels    

The labels must indicate precisely what is given in the data. Specific words, such as distinct variables and units, can label axes.

Make sure all the labels used are clear; not a single label should sound like something that could be confused with another.

Units of measurement    

Ensure each visual consistently uses the correct units of measure.

Font size and style      

Write it in large print, and do not overcrowd the presentation.  

Do not use two to three different fonts on your slides, as the difference between them will be very noticeable.

3. Maintain visual hierarchy  

Correct form will help you organize the content and allow the viewer to focus on the most relevant information.

Prioritize information.    

This should maximize the chances of readers paying attention to it.

Set color, size, and placement effectively.  

Employ these elements to tell viewers where to look at essential data metrics.

Avoid information overload.  

To keep the audience's attention, use the necessary visuals reasonably and avoid using too many images or graphics in the presentations.

4. Consider the audience's perspective.  

Effective visuals and educating your audience should not disregard how they understand information or the use of storytelling.

Tailor visuals to the audience's knowledge level.

The enterprise audience does not need to be immersed in technical details. Explain the measured factors whenever reasonable, mainly when this helps you lessen the complexity of several variables into one, making your data less intricate.

Use storytelling techniques  

A story should be created around the numbers to arouse public interest and make the consumption of numerical data more appealing and pleasant.

Incorporate visuals into your presentation flow.  

The final advice is to ensure the visuals complement your oral material and harmonize nicely.

5. Emphasize the significance of the study according to statistical indicators  

It also pleads a good case for the results by stressing the importance of statistical outputs.

Use color, size, and placement.      

To elaborate on these points, use these elements to highlight statistically significant findings that can attract attention.

Provide clear explanations    

Always clarify p-values and confidence intervals so your audience can put much importance into the data.

Avoid over-relying on asterisks.  

Statistical significance should be depicted rather than resorting to arbitrary symbols.

Explain what techniques were employed to highlight the statistical significance and the research findings.  

Color coding      

Color coding emphasizes statistically significant data; for example, statistical significance is presented with a bright color when the mean differences are given, while non-significance is presented in a relatively dull color.

Annotations  

When annotations are included within a chart, results like p-values and confidence intervals can be highlighted to help the audience understand the information.

Simplified visuals    

Companies do not use complex graphics in their visuals and consider simpler graphics that convey a simple message.

How To Use PowerPoint for Clinical Trial Presentations

Applying knowledge of PowerPoint options helps to improve the slides' attractiveness and, consequently, their informative content.

Leverage PowerPoint’s features    

Employ the features of SmartArt, shapes, and animations on the slides to make excellent impressions.

Use templates and themes.  

To avoid amateur presentations, choose templates and themes for medical purposes.

Ensure accessibility and legibility.    

Ensure the audience can comfortably read your slides or parts of them, such as color contrast or font size.

Real-Life Examples of Data Visualization Success

Examples of best practice presentations of clinical trials of pharmaceutical products

Example 1: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial  

Pfizer has been excellent in presenting the results of the COVID-19 vaccine trial.  

When showing the efficacy results, they broke it down using bar charts, which helped the audience understand that there was a better result with the vaccine than the placebo.

Example 2: Oncology trials at AstraZeneca  

You can see that using line charts, AstraZeneca’s oncology trial presentations illustrate the patient's survival rate.  

Using different colors and line styles, they successfully illustrate differences between treatment groups while making the data attractive and precise.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Clinical Trial Presentations  

1. Overusing charts and graphs    

Audiences sometimes are well engaged with dynamic visuals, but many of those visuals may confuse the audience.  

Do not use too many visuals; use only those with the most significant potential to clarify the main points and essential results.

2. Using complex visuals    

Supplement layouts are better when they are simple and easy to understand, with only passing reference to a relatively small number of easy-to-follow charts.  

Complicated graphics often irritate viewers, who focus on the visual details rather than the messages they must receive.

3. Ignoring data quality    

Ensure all the data shown are correct and verifiable.  

Inaccurate data can significantly affect your credibility and lead to questionable conclusions.

Percentile: Your Helper to Present the Results of Clinical Trials with PowerPoint  

In Presentile, the working team consists of medical professionals; we can professionally develop a full medical presentation, including your data.

Data visualization plays a vital role in each aspect of clinical trial presentations, increasing comprehension and interest and supporting decision-making.

We realize this fact at Presentile; our team recaps the key points and best data visualization practices in medical presentations for clinical trials.  

Save time and focus on presentation skills. Contact us now for more details.

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