ANZCTR search results

Obesity is a major health concern of epidemic proportions, with acupuncture being used and investigated as a potential treatment modality. Elevated eating, weight and shape concerns potentially have deleterious effects on mental health. To date few acupuncture studies have evaluated the effect of a weight loss program on the mental health of obese/overweight participants in a trial and none have looked at eating, weight and shape concerns. Objectives: To investigate the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture on the mental and physical health of individuals undertaking a weight loss program, with particular reference to individuals who have eating concerns (undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation). Methods: Thirty five consenting overweight/obese males and females participated in a single blinded randomised cross-over study. The two intervention phases were i) nutritional counselling plus TCM acupuncture and ii) nutritional counselling plus sham acupuncture. Outcome measures: The outcome measures were the EDI-3 Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC), the Becks Depression Inventory (BDI-2), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the SF-36v2 Health Survey (physical and mental quality of life) and body weight change. Results: There were no significant beneficial effects on the mental health of participants during the acupuncture or sham acupuncture phase. However when certain components of outcome measures were analysed, significant improvements were observed for overweight females with eating concerns during the acupuncture phase compared to the sham phase. These were STAI State (p= 0.004) and Trait anxiety (p= 0.04), BDI-2 depression (p= 0.04) and the mental aspect of the SF-36 Health survey (QoL) (p= 0.0001). Conclusion: TCM acupuncture was found to have beneficial effects on the mental health of overweight women with elevated eating and weight concerns. Further research is needed as these individuals are at greater risk for pathological eating issues and psychological distress.

Blood gas monitoring, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), is often needed for the appropriate management of patients with acute respiratory illnesses in the Emergency Department. Currently, the only accepted method to monitor CO2 is via arterial blood gas sample, however, repeated arterial blood sampling is invasive, causes patient discomfort, and fails to provide a continuous picture of changes in blood gas levels, in response to therapeutic interventions. Measuring oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide continuously provides more information about changes than single arterial measurements. This study will monitor CO2, using a non-invasive oral nasal cannula attached to a monitor and compare this to the traditional arterial CO2 reading. A CO2 reading will be recorded at the same time that a blood gas is taken, to see if there is a correlation between non invasive CO2 (NIET-CO2) and ABG results.

The aim of this research project is to investigate the efficacy and benefits of an in-reach multi disciplinary rehabilitation program. Patients will be assessed for egibility to attend rehab program by rehabilitation coordinator or rehab physician after referral received via medical/surgical teams. This will be done in accordance with SMART inclusion/ referral criteria. Research Project officer will enroll patients in study, complete informed consent and perform baseline data assessments. Participants will then be randomized into intervention and control group via a computer generated program. Intervention group will receive rehabililtation on ward 8D and the intervention group will receive standard care on any acute ward within RNSH. Functional measures will be conducetd by the research project officer in both control and intervention group at 7 day post enrollment or prior to discharge if this should be earlier. Hypothesis: Provision of a short term multi-disciplinary acute rehabilitation program to patients in acute care will lead to reduced length of stay, improved mobility and ADL function as well as improved quality of life.

The puropse of this study is to compare two treatment options for the replacement of missing lower back teeth; one option is the standard treatment using a removal partial denture, and the other option is use of a removable partial denture held in place by dental implants (a dental implant is an artificial tooth root, surgically placed into the jaw bone, to hold a tooth or denture in place). The hypothesis is that the implant-supported option provides significant benefits over the conventional removable partial denture in terms of function (ability to chew and break-down food), comfort, and overall patient satisfaction.

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is very common in older adults. Previous studies have identified that approximately 50% of adults aged 70 and over have some degree of SDB. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is the most common form and refers to intermittent obstructions to airflow during sleep, most often associated with snoring. While OSA has been shown to be associated with cognitive dysfunction in middle aged adults, the effect of OSA on cognitive outcomes in older adults is less well established, as there have been few prospective studies. SNORE-ASA will investigate whether sleep apnoea in healthy older adults is associated with cognitive decline over three years of follow-up, and whether daily low dose aspirin is protective against this cognitive decline associated with sleep apnoea. The study will also examine how sleep apnoea may cause cognitive decline in older adults, by using brain MRI and retinal photography to determine whether sleep apnoea causes hypoxaemia-induced small blood vessel flow problems (ischaemia), and whether aspirin alters this process.

To determine whether the administration of large or small volumes of fluid to patients underoing major elective abdominal surgery influences lenght of stay and outcome

The study will determine whether participating in 12 months social dancing can reduce the incidence of falls and improve physiological performance and cognitive tasks that are associated with greater risk of falling. A cluster randomised controlled trial of 28 self care retirement villages is proposed. Villages will be eligible to take part in the study if they: have at least 60 independent residents; have a common facility area for dancing; do not currently offer dance classes; and provide written consent to the study. Agreeing villages will be randomised 1:1 to intervention or control group. Participants in the 14 control sites will receive no intervention for 12 months, except mailing of educational materials on healthy ageing. They will be offered the same dance program free of charge at the end of the study. In the intervention sites a twice-weekly one-hour ballroom dancing (7 sites) or folk dancing (7 sites) class will be offered. Dance instructors will receive workshops to standardise program delivery across sites. Recruitment will be staggered over a 12 month period. Eligible participants will undergo a 1 hr baseline assessment session, which will comprise a structured interview, psychological and physiological tests. The same measurements will be repeated at 12 month follow-up. A falls diary will be collected each month by mail from all participants. Participants with missing diaries will be contacted by phone. To monitor changes in activity levels, participants will be asked to complete a self-report physical activity questionnaire at 6 months. To assess the intensity level of the dance class, participants will be asked to wear accelerometers periodically. The cost effectiveness of this intervention will also be evaluated at 3 months and 12 months.

Despite many decades of effective and safe use the mechanisms by which anaesthetics induce unconsciousness remain unresolved. While our knowledge of the molecular and cellular targets of anaesthetic action has increased substantially in the last couple of decades our knowledge regarding their effects on measured brain activity has progressed at a slower rate. The aim of this study is, for the first time, to use a high resolution method of brain imaging to better quantify the effects anaesthetic agents have on brain activity. Specifically we will quantify the effects of two volatile anaesthetic agents, nitrous oxide and xenon, on brain activity recorded using a high resolution brain imaging technique known as magnetoencephalography. These agents are chosen because of their reported differing effects on brain activity, their reported similar molecular targets of action and the fact that they are safe to administer in a research imaging environment.

This study will investigate the means and mechanisms by which self reflection and introspection mediate adaptive behaviours and complex decision making during simulated anaesthesthetic critical incidents. It will also explore whether simulation can be used effectively by experienced specialist anaesthetists to self identify gaps in skills and knowledge, increase awareness of personally preferred decision making methods and strategies aimed at optimising clinician welfare.

This project aims to evaluate a range of eHealth (i.e. healthcare using the internet; e.g. websites, apps) tools that have been designed to raise awareness of the link between brain and heart health and to help people make positive lifestyle changes.