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patients who were undergoing TMS intervention
Study population
The study population consisted 124 postischemic stroke patients, who were undergoing TMS
intervention in a clinic in Indonesia and followed up during January 2015 to September 2015. Inclusion
criteria for this study are patients with post nonhemorrhagic stroke that has motoric functional
impairment. All patients had to received MRI scan before undergoing TMS intervention. Finally, all
patients that passed the inclusion criteria were taken as total sample.
Clinical outcome
The primary outcome measures the therapeutic efficacy of TMS intervention, using the European
Stroke Scale (ESS). The European Stroke scale can be used as an instrument for matching of treatment
groups as well as for evaluation of the patients’ level of impairment. The scale consists of 14 items
selected on the basis of their specificity and their prognostic value. The 14 items are level of
consciousness, comprehension, speech, visual field, gaze, facial movement, maintenance of arm position,
arm raising, wrist extension, finger strength, maintenance of leg position, leg flexing, foot dorsiflexion,
and gait (L. Hantson et al. 1994). All patients were evaluated by one consultant neurologist who runs a
neurology clinic. Outcome data were retrieved from the Electronic Patient Records.
Statistical analysis
Paired Ttest was used to assess the statistical significance of the sample. P<0.05 was considered
statistically significant. We compared the calculated value with the table value. If the result show no
difference between the preTMS intervention and postTMS intervention. Thus, the null hypothesis is
accepted.
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