ANZCTR search results

This study tests the short and medium term efficacy of the online Wellbeing Course with consumers of an Arabic speaking background who experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.

Pressure injury (PI) causes pain, discomfort and immobility for patients, leading to increased length of hospital stay and cost. Although preventable, hospital acquired PI in Queensland in 2011 was 8.8% for patients overall. The sacrum is identified as one of the most common PI sites for patients. Special dressings may reduce PI, however rigorous testing has not been undertaken thus their benefit remains unclear. Further investigation using a pilot randomised controlled trial will assess the feasibility of undertaking a full-scale trial to test the efficacy of this dressing in reducing sacral PI with the potential of improving patient health and economic outcomes.

Throughout the world, rates of obesity and rates of caesarean sections are simultaneously increasingly. Moreover, women who have a body mass index (BMI) in the obese category ( that is >30) are much more likely to undergo caesarean section. These women there is a higher rate of wound infections and other wound complications such as wound breakdown and collection. In our study we propose that using interrupted stitches to close skin at caesarean section will reduce the rate of wound complications compared to using a continuous stitch.

The purpose of this project is to study the abnormal processes in the heart that can occur in people with chronic kidney disease. These processes may lead to significant heart rhythm disturbances. In this study we will assess people with chronic kidney disease who may be at high risk of developing these disorders. By doing so we aim to identify factors in chronic kidney disease that may lead to development of life-threatening heart rhythm disorders and determine potential measures to prevent sudden death.

Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in intensive care unit (ICU) is a rescue therapy for reversible cardiac and/or respiratory failures. It can also provide support until cardiac or lung transplantation. Haemorrhagic complications are the most frequent of the complications occurring on ECMO, and they have been shown to independently impact on patients’ prognosis. Although some of the haemorrhagic complications may be related to patient severity or patient disease, improving anticoagulation management may prevent some bleeding events and improve patient outcome. The primary aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of administrating low dose anti coagulation in critically ill patients on ECMO when there is no indication for full systemic anticoagulation We will randomise 20 patients so that 10 will receive low dose heparin and compare their complications and outcomes to the other 10 patients treated with the standard dose of heparin.

Tear film lipid layer plays an important role in maintaining tear film stability and ocular comfort. Contact lens wear compromises ocular surface equilibrium by disrupting the lipid layer which results in lens related ocular dryness and discomfort. The troublesome symptom of the contact lens wear often leads to discontinuation of lens wear and hence is critical for the researchers to design ways to overcome the challenge. Artificial tear supplements have been used to increase ocular comfort. This study aims to understand tear film lipids of contact lens wearers and also to evaluate the effect of exogenous lipid supplements on different aspects of tear film lipid layer. Hypotheses: 1. Improved contact lens comfort is associated with a thicker lipid layer and decreased lipid degradation resulting in reduced tear evaporation. 2. Use of an exogenous tear lipid supplement increases lipid thickness, reduces lipid degradation, increases tear stability, reduces tear evaporation and consequently improves contact lens comfort.

Cardiac surgical patients routinely receive supplemental oxygen immediately prior to, during and immediately following their cardiac surgical procedure. A major goal of anaesthetic care of the cardiac surgical patient is the maintenance of haemodynamic stability as well as the preservation of myocardial and systemic tissue oxygenation. Often cardiac surgical patients will receive supplemental oxygen and have supra-normal concentration of oxygen as a buffer of safety (Ihnken et al., 1998). However, cardiac surgical patients are particular susceptible to lung and myocardial injury attributable to hyperoxic states. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well known for their role in myocardial injury. ROS are free radicals (unpaired electrons) involved with oxidation-reduction reactions with other molecules. During cardiac surgery the formation of oxygen free radicals is accelerated from tissue injury and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Clinical studies have demonstrated apoptosis and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation occurring after ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, prolonged high oxygen concentrations have been shown to decrease myocardial contractility and a decrease in heart rate which results in impaired cardiac function and may delay recovery (Joachimsson et al, 1996; Ihnken et al, 1998). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a peri-operative change in oxygen therapy management for cardiac surgical patients based on emerging evidence. The change involved the adoption of a conservative oxygen therapy approach to oxygen therapy management during the perio-operative period. Conservatiive oxygen therapy is involves the deliberate manipulation of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) concentration to achieve normal blood oxygen saturations. We plan to inlcude 100 cardiac surgical patients in the before period and 100 cardiac surgical patients in the after period.

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects more than 20% of Australians aged over 55. The knee joint is commonly affected, resulting in knee pain and difficulty with everyday tasks such as walking or climbing stairs. Current treatments (e.g. medication, surgery, exercise) are only partially effective. Novel therapies that optimize the effects of current treatments are needed to reduce the social and economic burden on sufferers, caregivers and the wider community. Here we aim to conduct a ‘proof of concept’ study to investigate the use of an innovative non-invasive brain stimulation treatment to bolster the effects of exercise therapy in knee OA. We anticipate that the combination of non-invasive brain stimulation and exercise will have a greater effect on the biological mechanisms that contribute to pain, and thus provide greater benefits for pain and disability, than exercise alone.

Best practice management of low back pain (LBP) includes providing information that addresses misperceptions about LBP and encourages self-management. To date no LBP information has been developed for Aboriginal people. Our aim is to develop and evaluate LBP information tailored to meet the needs of Aboriginal people. We hypothesise that tailored information will improve the LBP beliefs and self-efficacy, and will be viewed more positively than a traditional form of LBP information recommended by guidelines.

The aim of this project is to determine whether melatonin supplementation has a dose response effect on clinical pregnancy rates, together with numerous important clinical, biochemical and sonographic secondary outcome measures. This will be achieved by a series of experiments designed to investigate the effect of melatonin on follicular fluid, serum, embryo and oocyte parameters as well as assessing clinical pregnancy rates and delivery rates