ANZCTR search results

This study has been designed to determine if the application of skin moisturising cream twice a day to the limbs of aged care residents will reduce the development of skin tear injuries.

Dietary nitrate is known to protect against adverse cardiovascular events by reducing blood pressure and via effects on the vascular endothelium. Several studies have also shown that dietary nitrate supplementation (in the form in beetroot juice) leads to improvements in exercise performance in healthy subjects and elite athletes. No such investigation has been undertaken in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Improving exercise tolerance and performance in this group of patients may significantly enhance the benefits derived from pulmonary rehabilitation in a sustainable fashion. The aims of this project are to establish whether beetroot juice supplementation is safe and effective in improving exercise performance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who attend an outpatient exercise program. It is a randomised placebo-controlled double-blinded crossover trial. Subjects with stable mild-moderate COPD are recruited and randomised to receive beetroot juice, BJ (in a commercially available form) or placebo, PL (an alternative juice). The placebo will either be beetroot juice which has been nitrate-depleted or apple & blackcurrent juice (depending on availability). There will be 3 phases to the study. Phase 1 is designed to assess safety. 10 of the subjects are randomly selected to take part in this phase. Subjects ingest a small dose of beetroot juice, and blood pressure and heart rate are observed over several hours. Phases 2 and 3 are designed to assess changes in exercise performance. All subjects take part in these phases. Baseline exercise tests are performed during the first session of testing. These comprise 2 incremental shuttle walk tests followed by an endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT). The following data is collected: distance walked, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, symptom scores (Borg scale), all according to standardised procedures. There is then a 3-day wash-in period during which subjects drink beetroot juice or placebo twice daily. On day 4 the subjects attend for the 2nd testing session during which they perform a repeat ESWT four hours after the morning treatment dose with the same data collected. This is followed by a 4-day washout period. Phase 3 involves the crossing-over of subjects from each treatment group to the alternative treatment and repeating the testing as per phase 2. The data is then analysed to determine the magnitude of any decrease in blood pressure, improvement in exercise performance and change in symptom scores.

To determine if pre-filling of bladder prior to IDC removal allows men to regain bladder control faster and thereby allowing earlier discharge

The experience of both migrainous and vestibular symptoms is likely to be associated with greater compromise than for either disorder presenting independently. The impact of VM is compounded due to the current lack of evidence-based treatment that has proven to be definitely efficacious. CBT is likely to be an effective adjunct treatment to medication in the treatment of VM. Trials are urgently needed to provide an evidence-base for such approaches.

This trial looks at the use of a focused educational learning package for paediatric emergency doctors training them in the use of ultrasound to detect forearm fractures. It will look to see if it is as sensitive and specific as the current gold standard of x-ray and also at the acceptability to patient and parent.

Patients undergoing a Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) often have difficulty eating adequately due to the side effects of treatment and malnutrition can occur which is associated with poor outcomes post transplant. The best type of nutrition support to be given during a SCT is controversial and Parenteral Nutrition/ Intravenous feeding (PN) is usually given over Enteral Nutrition/ Nasogastric feeding (EN) despite the increased cost, infection risks and other complications associated with PN. This project aims to determine whether PN or EN is better tolerated by SCT patients who are unable to eat adequately. If EN is successfully tolerated this will eliminate the risks, complications and cost associated with routine use of PN. This research will directly improve future patient care and will result in changes to current nutrition support practices and lead to improved outcomes for cancer transplant patients.

The study hypothesis is that the addition of a surgically implanted collagen scaffold will structurally thicken the tendon, measured with MRI, compared with tendons that are treated with standard decompression and/or repair alone without the scaffold.

One in three people 65 years and older fall each year with consequences for the individual and a high burden for society. Stepping is often the last protective option to prevent a fall. Studies have shown that impaired stepping is prevalent in older people and that impaired stepping is associated with high risk of falls. In this study a low-cost computer game device (dance pad) that enables a human-computer interaction via movements (exergame) will be used to as a home-based interactive step training in independent living older people. This randomised controlled pilot trial aims at improving parameters of fall-risk and physical function. Further aim is to investigate whether this step training to cognitive stimuli on a screen (TV) can improve parameters of cognitive function. This study proposes to test the hypothesis that: a short-term volitional step training intervention using a dance pad can significantly improve risk factors for falls as well as measures of cognition in independent living older people. The intervention will last 8 weeks and participants are asked to play a game of step co-ordination at least 2-3 times per week for 15 to 20 minutes and to do a choice stepping reaction time task once a week. People in the control group will maintain their usual activities. Primary outcome measure will be the choice stepping reaction time (CSRT). Further outcomes are the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), tests of combined motor and cognitive function, tests of physical performance, tests of cognitive functions, and a iconographic measure of Fear of Falling.

The aim of this group randomised control trial is to develop, implement and evaluate a school-based intervention to promote physical activity and improve fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency in children from disadvantaged primary schools. The 12-month intervention will include professional development workshops for teachers and students, school policy review and recommendations, community and parental engagement in the intervention process, student-led recess and lunchtime activities, and physical activity equipment packs. Physical activity behaviour, FMS competency, self esteem, physiological outcomes and potential mediators of behaviour change will be assessed. Assessments will be conducted at baseline 6- and 12-months.

This study is a multi-centre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled Phase I trial in people with spinal cord injury. This study is funded by a grant from the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative. A total of 50 participants with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury will be randomised into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. The control group will undertake a passive cycling program using a bed bike while in the acute ward and an upright bike once they progress to rehabilitation. The experimental group will undertake a FES-assisted cycling program using a bed bike while in the acute ward and an upright bike once they progress to rehabilitation. Both programs will consist of 60 minutes of training 4 times per week for 12 weeks. Training will commence once the participant is considered medically stable (a minimum 5 days post-injury, maximum 4 weeks post-injury). The main objective of the study is to determine the relative effectiveness of FES-assisted cycling compared to passive cycling on muscle cross-sectional area of thigh and calf. The total study duration is 2 years, including an 18month recruitment period, a 12 week treatment period and post-intervention assessments (within a week of last treatment).