ANZCTR search results

This study aims to evaluate the validity of a new standardised assessment for unilateral spatial neglect (USN) using Tobii eye tracking glasses within a functional task (making a hot beverage) This study is an extension of a feasibility study completed in 2014 (not registered as a trial) and asks the question “Can eye tracking glasses be used to efficiently and effectively assess USN in a functional task?”

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate whether formal assessment tools for the elderly can predict chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer, better than an oncologist's assessment as part of standard care. Who is it for? You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are aged 65 years or older, and have been diagnosed with any type of cancer for which you are due to begin chemotherapy. Study details All participants will complete a health questionnaire (known as a "geriatric assessment), which includes calculation of the CARG toxicity score. The geriatric assessment covers physical and mental wellbeing, any additional illnesses, history of falls, cognition, nutrition, and a timed walk test. The assessment session takes place over 30 minutes, once, prior to beginning chemotherapy. Researchers will then assess the level of chemotherapy toxicity throughout the planned chemotherapy, and will look at survival at one year. It is hoped that the findings of this trial will provide information on whether the CARG toxicity score can aid oncologists with the prediction of chemotherapy toxicity in elderly patients.

This study will not test a hypothesis. It will report the feasibility and uptake of adding a behaviour change intervention, which aims to reduce sedentary time of people with COPD, to a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program. The goal is to provide pilot data to support an NHMRC project grant application (in 2017).

The primary aim of this study is to pilot test the feasibility of a randomised trial that compares the effectiveness of new generation securement and dressing products for intra-arterial catheters (IAL). The RCT aims to (i) identify clinical, cost-effective methods to prevent catheter failure due to infection, phlebitis, occlusion, and dislodgement; (ii) compare usual care dressings with a novel method; (iii) evaluate the acceptability of these devices to patients and health professionals; and (iv) study adverse effect profiles. You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you are an intensive care patient over the age of 16 and are having an intra-arterial catheter inserted as part of your therapy (which is expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours). All participants enrolled in this trial will be randomly allocated (by chance) to receive one of four IAL dressing/securement options. These will be either (i) the standard simple polyurethane dressing; (ii) the standard simple polyurethane dressing and a chlorhexidine impregnated disc; (iii) an integrated securement device and simple polyurethane dressing combined into a single device; (iv) or an integrated securement device and chlorhexidine impregnated disc. The allocated dressing will be applied from device insertion until the time of device removal. Participants will be asked to rate the acceptability of the device and dressing, and the device will be observed closely to examine side effects, device failures and infections. It is hoped that the findings of this trial will provide information on which IAL securements and dressings are most effective in preventing IAL failure.

The primary aim of this study is to pilot test the feasibility of a randomised trial that compares the effectiveness of new generation securement and dressing products for peripheral intravenous catheters. The RCT aims to (i) identify clinical, cost-effective methods to prevent catheter failure due to infection, phlebitis, occlusion, and dislodgement; (ii) compare usual care dressings with a novel method; (iii) evaluate the acceptability of these devices to patients and health professionals; and (iv) study adverse effect profiles. You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you are a medical or surgical patient over the age of 16 and are having a peripheral venous catheter inserted as part of your therapy (which is expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours). All participants enrolled in this trial will be randomly allocated (by chance) to receive one of two PVC dressing/securement options. This will be either the standard bordered polyurethane dressing; or an integrated securement device. The allocated dressing will be applied from device insertion until the time of device removal. Participants will be asked to rate the acceptability of the device and dressing, and the device will be observed closely to examine side effects, device failures and infections. It is hoped that the findings of this trial will provide information on which PVC securements and dressings are most effective in preventing PVC failure.

The proposed study aims to evaluate the impact of an intervention targeting perfectionism and self-compassion on children’s psychological health. It will further develop Fairweather-Schmidt and Wade’s (2015) pilot study, by having greater power, one more lesson that the previous protocol (i.e., 3 instead of 2), having a longer follow up period, and aim to include schools with lower SES to increase generalisability.

Whole of Systems Trial Of Prevention Strategies for childhood obesity: WHO STOPS childhood obesity The goals of this grant are to: 1) strengthen community action for childhood obesity prevention, and 2) measure the impacts of increased action on risk factors for childhood obesity. This proposal addresses the lesson that the impact of previous successful interventions would be optimally sustained by increasing community ownership (community-built interventions), using existing community funding (avoiding the state and federal feast/famine of prevention funding), and building on existing community assets (systems and networks). We propose that permanent reductions in childhood obesity are possible if the complex and dynamic causes of obesity are well understood and addressed through increased community ownership and responsibility. Working with local partners this research tests whether new ways of embedding best practice for obesity prevention into existing community systems (e.g. health, workplaces, local council, schools) will achieve efficient and effective implementation and sustainability. In our development work we have evolved a facilitated, community engagement process which; creates an agreed systems map of childhood obesity causes for a community; identifies intervention opportunities through leveraging the dynamic aspects of the system; and, converts these understandings into community-built, systems-oriented action plans. Throughout this process systems data are collected for measuring systems changes over time. Our experience to date has been that this process rapidly increases capacity of community leaders to use systems thinking for community-wide obesity prevention. Consequently we have seen changes at multiple levels of systems (e.g. a council policies banning sugar sweetened beverages and improving water quality and application of systems thinking for health across ACT primary schools and among 30,000 members of a state emergency service). We will conduct a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial in ten communities in the GSCRV. Five communities will be randomised into the study in year one and all communities will be included in year 3. An additional group of 13 external communities from other regions of Victoria with no specific interventions will provide an external comparison and will help assess the potential diffusion of the intervention between regions within this trial. We will assess whether the adoption of systems change interventions rapidly increases community capacity to apply evidence-informed action across community systems. The primary outcome is childhood obesity prevalence and this will be collected by the community-led monitoring system. It is hypothesised that a systems intervention for childhood obesity will be effective in its impact, efficient in its implementation, scalable in its delivery, and sustainable in its longevity.

Polyphenols contained within the cocoa in chocolate are thought to be beneficial to some aspects of health. However, no study has investigated the effect of different types of chocolate (and the associated variation in polyphenol dose) on appetite and energy intake, in postmenopausal women. This research aims to investigate the acute effect of chocolate consumption (80% cocoa [dark] versus 35% cocoa [milk] versus 0% cocoa [white]) on appetite and energy intake in postmenopausal women. The results will have implications for weight management.

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial with the primary objective to determine the efficacy of omalizumab given to children aged 6-12 years during an acute asthma exacerbation to prevent asthma exacerbations in the subsequent six months. Subjects include male and female children aged 6-12 years presenting to Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (PMH) Emergency Department with moderate to severe acute asthma. The ‘treatment’ group (n=64) will receive one dose of omalizumab at the enrolment visit (Visit 1). The ‘placebo’ group (n=64) will receive one dose of a placebo at the enrolment visit (Visit 1). However, in accordance with the dosing table (described in the Xolair (Registered Trademark) (Omalizumab) Product Information Sheet), each participant with sufficient body weight (kg) and total IgE levels to require a second dose of Omalizumab, will need to have a second dose of either Omalizumab or placebo two weeks later. The treatment drug, omalizumab, (or placebo) will be administered at least 12 hours after the patient presents to hospital, at the enrolment visit and following treatment, the patient will be monitored for a minimum of two hours by an experienced paediatrician. All children will also receive standard asthma therapy according to the PMH Clinical Practice Guidelines. This study consists of 3-4 visits over six months (including the first enrolment and treatment visit) and 1 follow-up telephone interview at 12 months.

Delusions are characteristic of people with psychosis. Many of these people do not respond well to current drug treatments and require additional psychological treatment. This project is an investigation into the efficacy of psychological treatments for delusions in psychosis, focusing on a new therapy (MCT+) which combines cognitive-behavioural therapy for psychosis and metacognitive training. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for psychosis develops an awareness of the implausible content of a patient’s delusion, while metacognitive training targets the problematic thinking styles underlying delusional beliefs. It is expected that MCT+ will be one of the most effective psychological treatments for reducing delusional symptoms. The first aim of the proposed project is to determine the unique contribution of an individually-administered MCT+ program, combining the important facets of MCT and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, over a standard cognitive remediation program (HAPPYneuron) targeting only neuropsychological cognitive deficits. The second aim is to determine the persistence of any improvements due to MCT+ by including a longitudinal follow-up. In sum, this project will provide the theory-driven evidence base that is needed to inform and influence clinicians to roll-out MCT+ to improve treatment for delusional people with psychosis. Primary Hypothesis: Participants who receive metacognitive training (MCT+) will show a reduction in delusional severity whilst improving clinical and cognitive insight (relative to participants in the cognitive remediation control condition). Participants randomised to the cognitive remediation control condition will show improvements to the “cognitive symptoms” of psychosis, including improved language and memory skills (relative to participants in the metacognitive training condition).