ANZCTR search results

The aim of this trial is to examine whether Attention Bias Modification Training can augment a single session of graded exposure therapy in children and adolscents with a specific phobia. Cognitive-experimental studies show that anxious children display biased attention allocation to threat stimuli. This is a robust finding in anxious adults and consistent with cognitive models of anxiety. Attention Bias Modification Training is a promising treatment for anxiety disorders delivered via a computer.

This study will determine the feasibility and acceptability of using melatonin for the prevention of delirium in patients with advanced cancer. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above, and have a diagnosis of advanced cancer defined by the intent of treatment being no longer curative. You need to also be an inpatient at a palliative care or oncology facility. Trial details Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Participants in one group will take 2mg of melatonin by mouth every night for the duration of inpatient admission, and those in the other group will take a placebo (sham) treatment instead. Participants will not know which group they are in. Participants will be assessed during their admission to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin in preventing delirium events and to evaluate any effects on sleep quality, toxicity and other health outcomes.

The proposed study will evaluate the safety and costs associated with use of two PICC designs. The primary aim is to ascertain whether a new anti-thrombotic design is associated with less adverse events and need for removal than third-generation polyurethane. Additionally costs associated with using this new technology will be evaluated.

The purpose of this study is to strengthen the muscles that people with a spinal cord injury uses to breathe. The training would involve taking deep breaths in and out through a small handheld device to exercise the muscles used to breathe. The training will be in addition to the usual care received by each person. The training will be carried out by an experienced and qualified person for 15 minutes, twice a day, five times a week for a duration of 6 weeks. It is hypothesized that this training will strengthen the muscles used to breathe resulting is fewer lung complications while in hospital and at home. Outcomes will be reassessed after one year.

Smoking remains a major preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This research proposal builds on 2 observations; firstly, experiencing a heart attack is a teachable moment that enables up to 60% smokers to abruptly quit once they have experienced a heart attack; and secondly, we have demonstrated in a pilot study that it is feasible to induce smoking cessation through subjects watching a DVD containing images of him/herself, his/her partner and family digitally superimposed into a scenario depicting the person having a heart attack as a result of smoking, and the potential consequences to the partner and family. Using this novel approach, which we describe as a personalized simulated teachable moment, 7 of 13 smokers (53%) were abstinent at 6 months (published in Am J Cardiol 2010). We have since completed 20 subjects of whom 12 (60%) were abstinent at 12 months. In the current proposal, we will evaluate the simulated teachable moment hypothesis in a prospective randomized controlled study. We will compare smoking cessation rates using the personalized DVD with the same video using actors. In addition, we will evaluate the psychological impact of the personalized video. If this study demonstrates an additive effect of the personalized simulated teachable moment in smoking cessation, its use would be supported as an adjunct to smoking cessation, which in turn would have major health benefits in our society. We will conduct the study in selected General Practices and Pharmacies to investigate its broad applicability and ability to be disseminated widely.

Supporting childcare services to implement policies and practices which encourage children to eat healthily and be physically active has the capacity to make an important contribution in reducing the health burden of excessive weight gain in childhood. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an intensive, population-based intervention in increasing the physical activity and healthy eating policies and practices of childcare services. The intervention will be the first of its kind internationally and will provide valuable information for health promotion policy makers and practitioners on ways to support services create environments more supportive of child obesity prevention.

This study aims to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a multi-component non-pharmacological intervention in improving breathlessness management for lung cancer patients. 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 a primary or secondary lung cancer with a life expectancy of at least 3 months. You should have completed first line therapy, and have an average breathlessness rating of >2 on an 11 point scale in the past week. Trial details Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive a multi-component intervention that incorporates a range of strategies to manage breathlessness and related symptoms (e.g. breathing retraining, psychosocial support and management of other co-occurring symptoms) at one face-to-face instructional session of about 60 minutes, followed up by weekly calls to reinforce the interventions for 3 weeks. It will be delivered by experienced registered nurses trained in these techniques who will facilitate follow-up with relevant primary care/community supports. Participants in the other group will receive standard non-pharmacological interventions to manage breathlessness. Participants will be assessed at recruitment and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post treatment in order to determine the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention in improving breathlessness, anxiety, depression and co-occurring symptoms (cough, pain fatigue, anorexia).

Despite concerted efforts at local, state and national levels to arrest increasing rates of obesity, young adults have largely been neglected. Our published research has shown young adults are more likely to face an obese future than their parents - potentially leading to an increased risk of chronic illness for the individual and increased health care costs to the nation. An important opportunity to prevent further increases in obesity prevalence is to reduce weight gain in young adults. We have identified four key behaviours to improve diet quality and promote energy balance in young adults: reduce consumption of energy-dense take-away foods; increase fruit and vegetables; increase physical activity and decrease sedentary time; and reduce sugar sweetened drinks. We know that young adults are difficult to reach with health messages which is partly due the lack of a clear setting for intervention with this group. Our focus group research and others have found that young adults prefer electronic dissemination including SMS messages, email, smartphone applications, websites and chat forums. Mobile phones are the most common medium for young adults to use to communicate with friends and family. Published studies assessing SMS for changing health behaviors have indicated their success in the short term for smoking cessation, increasing physical activity and weight loss. The primary aim of this study is to compare changes in weight and discrete nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a population of young adults after receiving a nine-month mobile phone delivered intervention with changes in a control group. We hypothesize that our tailored intervention, including educational and motivational messages to improve lifestyle and attain/maintain a healthy weight, delivered using SMS, email, smartphone applications and a custom-designed website, will be more effective in improving young adults’ diets and physical activity, to manage their weight over nine months when compared with controls.

This is a crossover dose ranging study to assess and compare the PK/PD, immunogenicity and safety profiles of two preparations of Pegfilgrastim.

There is little evidence on how to care for patients with alcohol dependence who are not seeking treatment for their drinking. Research has shown that only a small proportion of such patients take up a referral for specialist care. This pilot study, utilising the NHMRC funded "Hospital Outpatients Alcohol Project" framework, will determine the feasibility of conducting a large trial designed to establish whether e-SBI can increase uptake of specialist care in this group of patients.