ANZCTR search results

This is a trial addressing the significant problem of cancer pain and the role of educational materials to improve patients' knowledge about pain relief and thereby improve pain and quality of life.

A research study into the gynaecological disease called endometriosis. Endometriosis affects 10 -15% of reproductive women. It can cause painful periods and painful intercourse, infertility and irregular bleeding. The cause of the disease is still unknown and the diagnosis of endometriosis is only possible with surgery. Women who are known to have endometriosis and those whose symptoms suggest that they may have endometriosis are being invited to participate in our study. The objective of our study is to investigate whether a device called Endosampler can be used to diagnose endometriosis by picking up small nerve fibres in the lining of the womb .Our preliminary studies suggest that these nerve fibres play a role in pain generation associated with endometriosis

The research will compare three groups of first-time mothers (a creative arts intervention group, an informal therapy intervention and control group and a questionnaire only and additional control group) in a partially randomised, controlled pilot trial in order to determine whether the psychological creative arts intervention program is more effective in reducing the use of analgesics or pain-relief during labour, increasing the level of satisfaction with labour, or the woman's ability to cope with labour, and reducing levels of depression and anxiety post-natally, compared to an informal birth support group, and a questionnaire only control group.

Breast cancer affects nearly 10,000 Australian women each year. Because the treatment of the cancer is so invasive and aggressive, and there is insufficient rehabilitation, women often report the presence of symptoms such as stiffness, weakness, swelling and pain months and years after treatment. These symptoms can impact on the quality of life and interfere substantially with activities of daily living for the cancer survivor. We will investigate whether an early intervention program of daily stretching and strengthening for muscles about the shoulder prevents occurence of these symptoms. We will compare the outcomes of patients randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a usual care (control) group. Subjects allocated to the exercise group will perform exercises daily, and will be supervised by a physiotherapist once a week for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, subjects will be given a home-based training program to continue indefinitely. Subjects in the 'Usual care' group will receive the same care as is now typically received, a vist by the physiotherapist and occupational therapist while an inpatient, and receipt of pamphlets. All subjects will be measured at baseline, 8 weeks, and 6 months intervals up to 3 years. The primary measure is arm symptoms, derived from a Breast Cancer specific questionnaire (BR32). In addition, range of motion, strength, swelling, pain and quality of life will be assessed. This study will determine whether the secondary problmes associated with treatment of breast cancer can be prevented by exercise, and provide the basis for successful rehabilitation. Additionally, it will identify whether strengthening exercises reduces the incidence of swelling.

This program intends to compare the effectiveness of two health programs (one an intervention program, one an active control) for enhancing the quality of life of women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer in the 6 months following surgery.

Please see attachment for summary of study's findings. Davies HT, Leslie G, Pereira SM, Webb SAR. A randomized comparative crossover study to assess the affect on circuit life of varying pre-dilution volume associated with CVVH and CVVHDf. The International Journal of Artificial Organs. 31 (3); 221-227.