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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Nov 16;24(1):736.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07773-4.

The Promotoer, a brain-computer interface-assisted intervention to promote upper limb functional motor recovery after stroke: a statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial

Marta Cipriani  1   2 , Floriana Pichiorri  3 , Emma Colamarino  3   4 , Jlenia Toppi  3   4 , Federica Tamburella  3 , Matteo Lorusso  3 , Alessandra Bigioni  3 , Giovanni Morone  3 , Francesco Tomaiuolo  5 , Filippo Santoro  6 , Daniele Cordella  7 , Marco Molinari  3 , Febo Cincotti  3   4 , Donatella Mattia  3 , Maria Puopolo  8
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Promotoer, a brain-computer interface-assisted intervention to promote upper limb functional motor recovery after stroke: a statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial

Marta Cipriani et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow to modulate the sensorimotor rhythms and are emerging technologies for promoting post-stroke motor function recovery. The Promotoer study aims to assess the short and long-term efficacy of the Promotoer system, an EEG-based BCI assisting motor imagery (MI) practice, in enhancing post-stroke functional hand motor recovery. This paper details the statistical analysis plan of the Promotoer study.

Methods: The Promotoer study is a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, single-centre, superiority trial, with two parallel groups and a 1:1 allocation ratio. Subacute stroke patients are randomized to EEG-based BCI-assisted MI training or to MI training alone (i.e. no BCI). An internal pilot study for sample size re-assessment is planned. The primary outcome is the effectiveness of the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) score. Secondary outcomes include clinical, functional, and user experience scores assessed at the end of intervention and at follow-up. Neurophysiological assessments are also planned. Effectiveness formulas have been specified, and intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations have been defined. Statistical methods for comparisons of groups and for development of a predictive score of significant improvement are described. Explorative subgroup analyses and methodology to handle missing data are considered.

Discussion: The Promotoer study will provide robust evidence for the short/long-term efficacy of the Promotoer system in subacute stroke patients undergoing a rehabilitation program. Moreover, the development of a predictive score of response will allow transferring of the Promotoer system to optimal clinical practice. By carefully describing the statistical principles and procedures, the statistical analysis plan provides transparency in the analysis of data.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04353297 . Registered on April 15, 2020.

Keywords: EEG-based brain-computer interface; Hand functional motor recovery; Neurorehabilitation; Randomized controlled trial; Statistical analysis plan; Stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Promotoer CONSORT flow diagram (CONSORT 2010)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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