Bayesian Methods in the Field of Rehabilitation

Abstract

Bayesian techniques, as an alternative method of statistical analysis in rehabilitation studies, have some advantages such as handling small sample sizes, allowing incorporation of previous experience of the researchers or clinicians, being suitable for different kinds of studies, and managing highly complex models. These characteristics are important in rehabilitation research. In the present article, the Bayesian approach is displayed through three examples in previously analyzed data with traditional or frequentist methods. The studies used as examples have small sample sizes and show that the Bayesian procedures enhance the statistical information of the results. The Bayesian credibility interval includes the true value of the corresponding parameter diminishing uncertainty about the treatment effect. In addition, the Bayes factor value quantifies the evidence provided by the data in favor of the alternative hypothesis as opposed to the null hypothesis. Bayesian inference could be an interesting and adaptable alternative statistical method for physical medicine and rehabilitation applications.

Adaptations of the Walking Corsi Test (WalCT) for 2- and 3-year-old preterm and term-born toddlers: A preliminary study

“…Due to the small sample in most of the subgroups, significant and nonspurious differences were also analyzed by means of Bayesian hypothesis testing (60). A Bayesian test proceeds similarly to a classical or frequentist hypothesis test, but the p-value for making a decision is replaced by the named Bayes factor (BF).…”

“…Topographic memory was evaluated using two purposedesigned adaptations of the original WalCT (15,26,27): The Adapted Walking Corsi Test and the Treasure Adapted Walking Corsi Test. Additionally, visuospatial attention was evaluated with the Teddy Bear Cancellation Test (60) to assess its contribution to navigational tasks.…”

The Effects of Priming Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Movement-Related and Mirror Visual Feedback-Induced Sensorimotor Desynchronization

“…The current study used a small sample size and the Bayesian procedures may enhance the statistical information of our results (Quintela-del-Río et al, 2019). Thus, we included a Bayesian analysis to help highlight the relative strength of the evidence in support of either the null or alternative hypothesis (Biel and Friedrich, 2018) using JASP program (Wagenmakers et al, 2018).…”