ANZCTR search results

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition of poor blood sugar control occurring during pregnancy. The poor sugar control is associated with poorer pregnancy outcomes, such as large babies often leading to caesarean deliveries, other pregnancy complications and diabetes in the future. About half of all women with GDM need insulin to control blood sugars. Special care needs to be provided to this group of women which involves intensive and frequent support for insulin management, adding to increased workloads on limited GDM services. Telemedicine is another way that people can be provided with health services while they are away from the hospital. In this approach patients send their heath monitoring information over the mobile phones or internet to healthcare providers who in turn review the information and provide advice to the patients. This project aims to use telemedicine to support care for women with GDM and it will be carried out at TNH as a major randomised controlled pilot study. Women who agree to be part of this project will monitor their BGL, insulin and symptoms at home. The women will send this information to the hospital via an online system called Online Health Portfolio for review by the GDM care team. If a patient has readings that are outside desired levels, the team at the hospital can then provide advice immediately via text message without the need for the woman to wait for the next hospital appointment. The project will evaluate whether a new new approach (telemedicine) used as part of of usual care, is able to reduce the workload on the GDM service, whether women who receive telemedicine will have better or similar pregnancy outcomes as women who will receive usual care alone and whether telemedicine will result in cost savings.

The aim of this study is to investigate the ability for flip-flop style footwear with a moulded foot-bed to reduce foot pain. We will also assess the effect of the flip-flop style footwear on perception of general foot health and assess the comfort of the flip-flop style footwear.

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) is a common problem for patients undergoing surgery. Heat redistribution from the body’s core to the periphery after induction of anaesthesia is the major contributor to heat loss. Both cotton and reflective blankets are currently in routine use in operating theatres for perioperative warming of patients undergoing short procedures. This study aims to determine if thermal insulation with reflective blankets is more effective than cotton blankets in reducing the temperature gradient from the body’s periphery to the core during the preoperative phase in adult patients undergoing short surgery and thus in reducing the intraoperative drop in core temperature.

The goal of this single-centre study is to establish a ‘universal’, blood group O bank, of P. vivax infected human red blood cells (RBCs) for use in future malaria challenge studies. The study will use P. vivax HMPBS02-Pv challenge inoculum to infect two healthy participants in order to characterize the safety and infectivity of the parasite isolate P. vivax HMPBS02-Pv in vivo. Each participant will be inoculated on Day 0 with around 100 viable P. vivax-infected RBCs administered intravenously. The participants will be monitored for malaria symptoms firstly by phone, and then on an outpatient basis, for the unexpected early onset of malaria symptoms and for malaria parasites by PCR. On the day designated for commencement of treatment, as determined by PCR results and/or onset of clinical symptoms, participants will be admitted to the study unit and confined for safety monitoring and anti-malarial treatment (Riamet (Registered Trademark')) Following initiation of anti-malarial treatment, the participants will be monitored as in-patients for 48 hours to ensure tolerance of therapy and clinical response. Once clinically well, the participants will be followed up on an out-patient basis for continued dosing of anti-malarial drug, safety and clearance of malaria parasites via PCR. Follow up visits for safety assessments will be performed on Day 28 and Day 90 after malaria infection.

To date no prospective study has been undertaken to investigate the effect of haemodialysis dose delivery on the epidemiology and biological effect of blood pressure variability. This study represents the first comparative investigation between peritoneal dialysis, extended-hours haemodialysis and conventional thrice-weekly satellite therapy, with the expectation of objectively demonstrating smoother and better control of blood pressure using home-based therapies. This study hypothesises that patients undergoing therapies with high-dose dialysis achieve better control of blood pressure with less time spent in hypertensive ranges and less blood pressure variability than patients undergoing conventional thrice-weekly satellite haemodialysis

The purpose of the study is to investigate possible mechanisms by which glucocorticoids raise blood pressure. The hypothesis is that glucocorticoids raise blood pressure by suppression of nitric oxide activity. The study tests this hypothesis by examining whether oral administration of isosorbide mononitrate, which is a nitric oxide donor, changes blood pressure in patients whose blood pressure has gone up after 5 days of treatment with oral hydrocortisone.

The aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of an online resource to increase physical activity (primarily walking) among rural South Australian adults. Registration is open for any adult (aged 18 - 74) whose primary residence is in either the Riverland or Yorke Peninsula regions of South Australia and who are currently insufficiently active (i.e. participated in less than 20 bouts of physical activity lasting at least 30 minutes in the previous month). Registered participants will also require ongoing access to the internet. Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Participants in the intervention group will take part in a 12-week lifestyle program during which they will wear a pedometer and use an online resource. The main focus of the online resource is a step log where participants enter their daily step counts, perception of exertion and feeling daily. Based on this information they will be emailed weekly step count goals. The website will also include an interactive forum that links participants to other participants in the intervention group. There will be a virtual notice board where community service organisers can advertise events and activities relating to physical activity and healthy eating. Information on healthy eating will be provided based on The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Intervention group participants will receive weekly progress phone calls which will be tapered off towards the end of the study period to foster independence. Participants are free to use (or not use) the program at their discretion. Participants in the other group will receive a pedometer, standard step log diary (paper form) and one progress phone call (week 2). They will receive step goal emails, however these will be generic (versus individualized) with the intention of reaching the recommended 10,000 steps by week 12. Health, physical activity and psychological wellbeing measures will be taken at baseline and intervention-end, as well as 6-month and 12-month follow-up.

This study will evaluate the effect of a SunSmart policy intervention in schools on the quality of sun protection behaviours adopted by children during recess and lunch periods, and the role modelling of sun protection behaviour by teachers. Who is it for? Participants in this study are primary school students and teachers in existing NSW government schools within the Greater Western Sydney catchment area, that have an existing sun protection policy. Study details Schools in this study will be randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Schools in one group will continue to implement their existing sun protection policies, whilst schools allocated to the other group will receive the SunSmart policy intervention. This runs over 20 school weeks, and involves parents, teachers and students working together with researchers to devise policy changes to improve sun protection behaviours that are adopted by children during periods when students are exposed to ultraviolet light. The behaviours sought to be modified include: a) Students wearing of wide brim hats and sunscreen during UV exposed periods of the day; b) Students playing in shaded areas during periods of high UV exposure; c) Teachers role-modelling the wearing of hats and sunglasses during exposed periods of the day. Adherence to sun protection policies will be observed in all schools over a period of three school terms, in order to determine the efficacy of the policy-based intervention compared to schools who have not undertaken the intervention process.

What is the purpose of this study? After-school care is formal care provided by non-school staff between 3pm and 6pm. In Australia around 10% of children aged 5-12 attend some form of after-school care. Limited Australian data exist for these settings, but internationally they are characterised by high levels of physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and unhealthy snacking, and little opportunity for academic enrichment The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of the ‘Wollongong SPORT’ program when implemented in Big Fat Smile after-school centres. Wollongong SPORT is a physical activity and academic enrichment program for 5-10 year-old children. This program will be implemented in your child’s after school centre. The research that we are seeking your consent for is to collect data from your child on the effect of the program on your child’s physical activity and cognitive development.

The purpose of this project is to develop a motor skill development resource for toddlers aged 1-3 years. The expected outcomes will be an evidence-based resource that meets the needs and wants of the community partner, Big Fat Smile. After development, educators will be trained in the area of toddler motor development for improved pedagogy and practice. Then, the toddlers will receive better instruction in how to develop these motor skills, resulting in increased learning and motor skill development.