title: Bayesian adaptive trials offer advantages in comparative effectiveness trials: an example in status epilepticus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present a novel Bayesian adaptive comparative effectiveness trial comparing three treatments for status epilepticus that uses adaptive randomization with potential early stopping.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial will enroll 720 unique patients in emergency departments and uses a Bayesian adaptive design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trial design is compared to a trial without adaptive randomization and produces an efficient trial in which a higher proportion of patients are likely to be randomized to the most effective treatment arm while generally using fewer total patients and offers higher power than an analogous trial with fixed randomization when identifying a superior treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When one treatment is superior to the other two, the trial design provides better patient care, higher power, and a lower expected sample size.
authors.affiliation: Berry Consultants, 4301 Westbank Dr, Suite 140, Bldg B, Austin, TX 78746, USA. jason@berryconsultants.com
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Jordan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Elm
authors.forename: Kristine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Broglio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057239:Early Termination of Clinical Trials; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; C043114:fosphenytoin; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Adaptive sample size; Bayesian adaptive trials; Comparative effectiveness research; Emergency medicine; Response adaptive randomization; Status epilepticus