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Using the Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale as Outcome Measures for Stroke Rehabilitation Trials; A Comparison of Minimum Sample Size Requirements.

McGill, K., Sackley, C., Godwin, J., Gavaghan, D., Ali, M., Ballester, B. R., Brady, M. C., Ali, M., Ashburn, A., Barer, D., Barzel, A., Bernhardt, J., Bowen, A., Drummond, A., Edmans, J., English, C., Gladman, J., Godecke, E., Hiekkala, S., Hoffmann, T., Kalra, L., Kuys, S., Langhorne, P., Laska, A. C., Lees, K., Logan, P., Machner, B., Mead, G., Morris, J., Pandyan, A., Pollock, A., Pomeroy, V., Rodgers, H., Sackley, C., Shaw, L., Stott, D. J., Sunnerhagen, K. S., Tyson, S., van Vilet, P., Walker, M. and Whiteley, W., 2021. Using the Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale as Outcome Measures for Stroke Rehabilitation Trials; A Comparison of Minimum Sample Size Requirements. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 31 (2), 106229.

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Simulations JSCVD V2 revised19102021.pdf - Accepted Version
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106229

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Underpowered trials risk inaccurate results. Recruitment to stroke rehabilitation randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is often a challenge. Statistical simulations offer an important opportunity to explore the adequacy of sample sizes in the context of specific outcome measures. We aimed to examine and compare the adequacy of stroke rehabilitation RCT sample sizes using the Barthel Index (BI) or modified Rankin Scale (mRS) as primary outcomes. METHODS: We conducted computer simulations using typical experimental event rates (EER) and control event rates (CER) based on individual participant data (IPD) from stroke rehabilitation RCTs. Event rates are the proportion of participants who experienced clinically relevant improvements in the RCT experimental and control groups. We examined minimum sample size requirements and estimated the number of participants required to achieve a number needed to treat within clinically acceptable boundaries for the BI and mRS. RESULTS: We secured 2350 IPD (18 RCTs). For a 90% chance of statistical accuracy on the BI a rehabilitation RCT would require 273 participants per randomised group. Accurate interpretation of effect sizes would require 1000s of participants per group. Simulations for the mRS were not possible as a clinically relevant improvement was not detected when using this outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke rehabilitation RCTs with large sample sizes are required for accurate interpretation of effect sizes based on the BI. The mRS lacked sensitivity to detect change and thus may be unsuitable as a primary outcome in stroke rehabilitation trials.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:1052-3057
Uncontrolled Keywords:Barthel Index; Randomised controlled trials; Recruitment; Sample size calculations; Simulations; Stroke rehabilitation; modified Rankin Scale
Group:Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
ID Code:36620
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:04 Mar 2022 16:00
Last Modified:03 Dec 2022 01:08

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