ANZCTR search results

A quality assurance project to assess the two different methods of connecting blood lines to permcaths for haemodialysis.

the trial investigates whether the symptoms of chronic constipation can be relieved using the novel therapy of sacral nerve stimulation. A pacemaker device is surgically implanted above the sacral nerve so that an electrical stimulation can be applied to either S3 or S4. This has been shown to normalise the colonic contractions in faecal incontinence. This study intends to test wether the same stimulation will have an effect on the symptoms of chronic constipation.

Glaucoma is a blinding eye disease which can be treated by lowering eye pressure, or intraocular pressure (IOP). However some patients continue to get worse despite having an acceptably lowered IOP. IOP is determined by the production of aqueous fluid within the eye and the rate at which aqueous leaves the eye through the trabecular meshwork (TM). The eye-drop medication Ibopamine which temporarily increases aqueous production, has no effect on normal patients; however those with glaucoma will exhibit a rise in IOP when Ibopamine is applied. Possibly, patients whose glaucoma is progressively worsening despite having a low IOP measured in the clinic will demonstrate a larger increase in IOP with Ibopamine drops. We would like to recruit two groups of patients: one with glaucoma which is progressively deteriorating despite lowered IOP and one with stable glaucoma. We would then like to compare the change in their IOP when Ibopamine drops are applied to their eyes. Our aim is to validate this as a new test to predict which glaucoma patients will progress.

The standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection is pegylated interferon alpha combined with ribavirin. Anaemia is a common complication occurring in up to 30% of subjects. Unfortunately, side effects of interferon and ribavirin therapy can require dose reductions, reducing the likelihood of sustained viral response. Recent data shows that interferon alpha may increase hepcidin (a key iron regulator) production, resulting in impaired iron availability for production of red blood cells. In this study, we will evaluate hepcidin levels in 30 patients with Hepatitis C who are treated with interferon alpha containing regimens as per standard of care treatment. If hepcidin plays a role in interferon-induced anaemia, cheap and readily available oral hepcidin inhibitors could be trialled to potentially reduce the impact of interferon alpha induced anaemia.

This study aims to help overweight adolescents develop healthy activity, food and attitude habits. Adolescents and their parents participate in an intensive 8 week program (involving twice weekly 2 hour sessions) followed by regular contact for 3 months to assist with goal achievement. The study hypothesis is that adolescent activity and food behaviours will be improved after the intensive program and be maintained at 12 months post program

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate and trial a combined therapy of novel medication and speech pathology for a persistent cough that hasn't previously responded to typical medical treatment. We will compare this program to individual component treatments of medication or speech pathology with the aim of significantly reducing cough symptoms and cough severity. Our ultimate goal is to resolve the cough resulting in a significant improvement in patient quality of life.

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) identify levels of distress in patients on a waiting list for total joint arthroplasty (TJA), and (2) to determine whether administering an eight-session group mindfulness training intervention prior to surgery will improve the physical recovery of patients undergoing TJA. It is hypothesized that (1) levels of pain will be adversely associated with depression, anxiety and lower Quality of Life; (2) the intervention will lead to better tolerance of symptoms, and improved quality of life. Mindfulness is “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment”. Training involves instruction in a number of meditation techniques as well as teaching on how to remain focused on the present moment in day to day activities. There is now extensive scientific evidence showing that mindfulness training leads to an improvement in emotional and physical symptoms in a variety of disorders such as chronic pain, cancer, depression, anxiety and substance use among others. We propose to undertake a 3 year randomised controlled trial in patients with end stage osteoarthritis on the waiting list for TJA. The study will recruit 150 patients and randomly allocate them to receive the current standard of care for TJA or a combination of Mindfulness training (MT) followed by TJA. We plan to measure pain, function, quality of life, coping and mental health via validated questionnaires, as well as the cost effectiveness of a strategy that combines MT and TJA, compared to TJA alone. These measures will be taken prior to surgery and at 3 and 12 months post TJA surgery. Participants will all be followed for one year at which time the benefits in terms of health improvements after TJA will be, compared.

This project will be the first high quality clinical trial comparing two conservative physiotherapy management approaches for anterior shoulder dislocations (ASDs) using reliable measures of shoulder function and re-dislocation as outcomes. This project will also contribute to the research in immobilisation positioning for patients with ASD and will provide further direction on the implications of conservative management versus surgical intervention for this population. The incidence of ASD has been estimated at approximately 1.7% of the population and the consequences of traumatic shoulder dislocation and re-dislocation include loss of work productivity, ongoing loss and limitation of shoulder function and sporting activities, and degenerative arthropathy, all contributing to great cost for the patient and community. The findings of this project will benefit patients, orthopaedic specialists, emergency department specialists, general practitioners and allied health personnel who deal with this frequently seen condition and consequently reduce the significant costs associated.

The aim of the study is to understand the role of endogenous opioids ( the body's own morphine-like chemicals) in regulating breathlessness in people with Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease and to answer the question "Does blocking these endogenous opioids during exercise change the perseption of breathlessness. Trial details Participants with moderate to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Airways (COPD) disease, if eligible will be asked to attend the clinic up to 5 times over the study period and each visit will take about 2 hours. After a baseline exercise test on a treadmill participants will have 4 subsequent standardised treadmill exercise sessions.Each test will comprise of up to 15 minutes on the treadmill with the aim of walking as far as possilbe at a steady pace. Visits will be weeklyand a doctor and nurse will be present at all times during the proceedure. Bloods will be taken on visit 3 to measure two chemicals that the body routinely makes- beta endorphin and adrenocorticotrophin. 30 minutes before each exercise test the participant will be administered 5mg of salbutamol through an inhaler. On the 3th,4th and 5th exercise test participants will receive a double blind injection on different visits of each of saline, methylnaltrexone and naloxone, in a random ( by chance) order. During the 15 minute exercise tests, participants will be asked to record the intensity and unpleasantness of their breathlessness and how tired their legs feel, every minute by means of a touch pad screen. Throughout each test and for 30 minutes after stopping the participant will be attached to cardiac monitor and their blood pressure will be monitored regularly.

Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid is defined as the help provided to someone who is developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. The assistance is given until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves. Mental Health First Aid training is provided to members of the public so that they can learn how to effectively and confidently assist those with mental health problems. The Mental Health First Aid Training Program (MHFA) has been running since 2002 and has trained over 85,000 Australians in how to respond to mental health problems, via a 12-hour training course, which is run in an interactive, group format. Development of First Aid Guidelines Over the last 3.5 years a series of guidelines for providing best practice mental health first aid have been developed by MHFA. These guidelines are based on the expert opinions of panels of mental health consumers, carers and clinicians from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Since developing these expert consensus documents, the MHFA program has begun to revise its training course and teaching materials to reflect the new evidence they provide. Purpose of this research Guidelines on providing first aid for eating disorders were developed in 2007 and published in 2008. Because these guidelines are the first ever to provide consensus-based information about how to assist someone who may be developing or experiencing an eating disorder, we would like to gather some feedback from community members about how helpful they are.