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Heart Failure (HF) is a debilitating and chronic disease that is associated with a high rate of comorbid mental illness. Depression is associated with increased risk of mortality and cardiac events. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is recommended as a preferred treatment in HF and cardiovascular disease (CVD) management. However determining the effect of CBT in CVD and HF patients is implicated by a history of limited randomised controlled trials, confounded sampling issues and reduced functioning ability. Furthermore, research in the field of anxiety management in cardiac patients is lacking although emerging research indicates that clinical anxiety is as prevalent as depression. This study seeks to investigate the therapeutic impact of a CBT intervention targeted to both depression and anxiety on HF outpatients in managed care. The treatment model “mood management” has been trialled and evaluated to be efficacious in depressed and anxious nonmedical clients. Participants (n=5) will be offered the program as a treatment option from a HF nurse and self refer to the study. It is hypothesised that participants will display improved scores on measures of depression and anxiety. Results will help inform current and future research on effective therapeutic treatment of CBT group therapy and the utility for depressed and anxious HF outpatients.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of SAMe versus a combination nutraceutical (SAMe + 5-HTP, EPA and zinc) as adjunctive treatments in adults (n=300) with major depressive disorder in an 8-week, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome measure is severity of depressive symptoms using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of SAMe versus a combination nutraceutical (SAMe + 5-HTP, EPA and zinc) in the monotherapy treatment of adults (n=60) with major depressive disorder in an 8-week, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome measure is severity of depressive symptoms using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

The study is investigating the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training plus general multidisciplinary rehabilitation in patients who have undergone bowel cancer surgery. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years and over, have undergone anterior resection for stage I – III bowel cancer, and are able to walk and manage self-care, out of bed more than 50% of waking hours (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 – 2). Trial details Participants in this study will be randomly (by chance) divided into one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive general multidisciplinary rehabilitation and PFM training program. The general multidisciplinary rehabilitation will consist of a multidisciplinary group education and exercise program, which will be provided twice weekly for 8 weeks. Each session will last approximately one hour. The education component will include advice about nutrition, exercise, fatigue management and coping with stress. Information will be delivered by a range of clinicians (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and dieticians). The exercise component will include a general (combined aerobic and resistance) exercise training program supervised by a physiotherapist. The PFM training program will consist of physiotherapy-supervised pelvic floor muscle training sessions, and bladder and bowel function advice over 12 sessions. Biofeedback will be used to facilitate pelvic floor muscle function. The training sessions will be approximately one hour long. The duration of intervention is eight weeks. Participants in the second group will only receive the general multidisciplinary rehabilitation twice weekly for 8 weeks. All participants will be required to complete some questionnaires and tests (e.g. transperineal ultrasound, six-minute walk test, etc) at the end of the intervention, and at 6, 12, 24 and 60 months from baseline to evaluate their pelvic floor symptoms and outcomes.

Fifty patients undergoing liver transplant will be included in the study. The participants will be randomized in two groups using a software application. In SR group, simultaneous portal vein and hepatic artery reperfusion, while in IPR group an initial portal reperfusion and the hepatic artery reperfusion is subsequently performed. Both techniques are used in the clinical practice, it is based on the personal preference of the surgeon the type of perfusion technique used. There is no evidence that one technique of reperfusion is superior to another or harmful.Data regarding preoperative variables, intraoperative and postoperative variables are prospectively collected. A non-invasive device (called Sidestream Dark Field imaging), that allow for clinical observation of the microcirculation will be used. It is hand-held probe with a sterile extension for direct contact with liver parenchyma. Liver biopsies are performed to assess Immunohystochemical intensity of ET-1 and other markers. The tissue to be acquired in this study will be obtained from surgical specimens taken from consented participants having routine hepatic surgery or liver transplantation. The study additionally requires the provision of a blood sample for the serum assessment of ET-1 and other markers. This blood sample will be taken at the time of clinically indicated vensection. The risks involved in drawing blood from the arm include discomfort at the site of insertion of the needle and possible bruising/swelling around the injection site. There is a very rare risk of infection. There is also a remote possibility of fainting while blood is being drawn.

Forty patients undergoing major liver resection will be included in the study. Data regarding preoperative variables, intraoperative and postoperative variables are prospectively collected. A non-invasive device (called Sidestream Dark Field imaging), that allow for clinical observation of the microcirculation will be used. It is hand-held probe with a sterile extension for direct contact with liver parenchyma. Portal vein and hepatic artery flow will be measured intraoperatively. Liver biopsies are performed to assess Immunohystochemical intensity of ET-1 and other markers. The tissue to be acquired in this study will be obtained from surgical specimens taken from consented participants having liver resection.

This study will evaluate changes in attitudes toward alcohol, knowledge and application of harm minimisation strategies and alcohol use following use of the eTool. A field trial will be conducted to determine the outcomes of the eTool on young people's attitudes to alcohol and knowledge of behaviours for safe alcohol consumption, as well as further information on the usability of the app. Young people will be given the eTool to trial for one month, during which time the eTool will collect information about their usage (including the number of times it was used; the date, time and duration each session of use), the sections of the eTool accessed and data entered into the app . This includes the number of drinks they typically consume on a 'fun', 'relaxed' and 'crazy' night and the number of drinks they can consume before hitting their 'stupid line' for drinking (the point at which a fun night out gets messy). At the end of the app young people are asked to re-enter the number of drinks they typically consume on a 'fun', 'relaxed' and 'crazy' night after receiving feedback on their night out with Ray, the red panda who is the character in the game. Research follow ups on young people's attitudes to alcohol, knowledge of behaviours for safe alcohol consumption and alcohol use is collected at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months follow up.

To compare the relative effectiveness of short-term 14 day high and low-antioxidant diet on airway inflammation, respiratory symptoms and immune function in athletes.

Preliminary research shows listening to music in early stroke rehabilitation can improve mood and cognition. This pilot project aims to test if participants who listen to 70 hours of preferred music in the first 12 weeks post stroke will have better outcomes in their mood, cognition, quality of life, communication and function.

This project aims to evaluate the effect of a formal advance care planning intervention (ACP) on the documentation of patient wishes, compliance with known end of life (EOL) wishes and the quality of death of patients with progressive incurable cancer on first line chemotherapy. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above and have been diagnosed with an incurable cancer with disease progression on first line chemotherapy. Eligible patients must be able to nominate a family member or friend who is willing to participate in the study who is 18 years of age or over. Study details Patients and their family/friend/carer will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive standard end of life care. Participants in the other group will receive standard care plus a formal advance care planning intervention. All patients and family who request information on life expectancy will be provided with typical, best case and worst case scenarios for survival time. The intervention aims to promote discussion between patient and family and the health care team and to promote documentation of the patient’s preferences for continuing and EOL care. The intervention involves the patient plus a family member or friend meeting with a specially trained nurse to have conversations about their goals, wishes and needs for care now and in the future, as well as how these matters will be shared with their doctor and health care team. For those patients allocated to the group who receive the intervention, this program will take between half an hour to 3 hours over 1 to 3 visits to complete, depending on patient preference. Patients will be asked to complete some questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, and every 3 months thereafter to evaluate quality of life and satisfaction with care. The patient’s family/friend/carer will also be asked to complete some questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, every 3 months until the patient’s death, and then at 3 months after bereavement to evaluate their perceived quality of death and the impact of death on surviving family. The costs of care will also be assessed.