ANZCTR search results

The hypothesis of this study is that an enhanced PET/CT scanning protocol using new technology to monitor patient's breathing will detect disease that was not seen by any other scanning technique. The intervention being tested is the new respiratory scanning technology. This technology is able to create a video of a patient breathing rather that a snap shot to correct any blurring caused by normal breathing.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the administration of the natural amino acid, tyrosine, compared with that of a placebo on the cognitive functioning of healthy adult volunteers subjected to an acute psychosocial stress event. This is based on the hypothesis that pre-test administration with tyrosine will prevent or reduce the negative impact of psychosocial stress on a broad range of cognitive tasks through its effect on neurotransmitter functioning

The purpose of this research is to validate a Scored Sodium Questionnaire (SSQ) as a quick and easy clinical and research tool for assessing salt intake in renal patients. Evidence Based Practice Guidelines internationally recommend a low sodium diet for renal patients to assist in the management of and retard progression in chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-9. While dietary counselling is effective in lowering dietary sodium, the prevalence of this disease is increasing rapidly, making it impossible to provide individualised dietary education to all patients. It is essential that finite dietetic resources are directed at those with the greatest need for dietary intervention. Therefore, it is important that clinicians and researchers have a reliable and convenient method of screening and assessing dietary sodium intake to assist in identifying patients who would benefit most from individualised dietetic education and counselling support. Current methods for assessing dietary sodium intake are time consuming, subject to inter-rater variability and are therefore rarely used in the clinical setting. In addition, the gold standard (24-hour urinary sodium) is time consuming, costly and intrusive. A self-administered SSQ was recently developed by dietitians and researchers at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) but has not yet been validated in the target population. Research design: Cross-sectional validation study involving 90 consecutive patients with CKD visiting the Nundah or North Lakes Kidney Health Clinics. Consented participants will be asked to complete the SSQ and a 24-hour food record as well as provide 24-hour urine collections for estimating urinary sodium excretion (urine samples are collected as part of routine care). To validate the SSQ in this population, dietary sodium intake (grams) will be calculated using the tool, confirmed by comparing to 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (grams/day) (gold standard), and cross checked against sodium intake assessed by the 24-hour food record. Steps will also be taken to investigate which parts/questions in the SSQ are more strongly correlated to predict a higher sodium intake, so that clinical referral for dietetic resources can be directed accordingly (screening section of the tool). A valid tool will provide clinicians and researchers with a quick and efficient method of assessing patients’ sodium intakes without the need for intensive dietary interviewing and analysis. In addition, the screening section could be used by non-dietetic staff to identify patients with higher sodium intakes for dietetic referral.

This study was the first to examine the efficacy of a psychological treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy, was in reducing methamphetamine use and depression among a group of people who were regular users of methamphetamines. It was hypothesised that people who recieved four sessions of treatment would make superior reductions in methamphetamine use and depression relative to those who received two treatment sessions, and that those who receive the four- and two-session treatments would report superior improvements in depression and reducation in methamphetamine use relative to the control.

This study intends to investigate if there is any improvement in healing of pressure ulcer in hospitalized patients receiving an intensive and specialized nutrition intervention compared to standard nutritional care. This pilot study is being conducted initially to determine if the nutrition intervention is feasible, how many patients can be enrolled and if the nutrition intervention improves healing. This data will assist in planning future, larger studies.

There is a long established link between dietary salt intake and blood pressure, and hypertension is common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Breads and cereals are high in salt, so the recommendation that people with diabetes should consume a high carbohydrate diet may lead to high salt intakes and make blood pressure more difficult to manage. This study will determine the effect of giving people with type 2 diabetes additional dietary education to reduce their salt intake.

The majority of smokers want to quit and support and advice from registered nurses has been proven effective (Rice et al., 2008) . Current literature reports that smokers with chronic hepatitis C have a higher risk of having poor health outcomes such as developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and they may also be at higher risk of having a lowered immune response . It is therefore recommended they should be advised to stop smoking before commencing on interferon based treatment (El-Zayadi 2004). This study aims to identify the effectiveness of evidence based smoking interventions (Quitline counselling intervention and Nicotine Replacement Therapy) which may have an impact on helping smokers quit and which may improve health outcomes for people who attend the RBWH for management of their chronic hepatitis C. This will be undertaken by conducting a randomised controlled trial of this high risk group of people. The results will inform the Nurse Practitioner for Hepatology, health services and policy makers of interventions which can be used to help smokers in this high risk group quit or reduce the amount of cigarettes they smoke and hence assist with better treatment outcomes for people with chronic hepatitis C.

The study objective is to compare the analgesic efficacy and quality of postoperative pain relief following minor gynaecological surgery between four different intra-operative analgesic regimens based on opioid plus either paracetamol, parecoxib, paracetamol and parecoxib in combination or placebo. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the analgesic efficacy and quality of pain relief provided by either paracetamol, parecoxib, paracetamol and parecoxib in combination or placebo in patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery.

This study sets out to see if the new water soluble intravenous anaesthetic has advantages ove the current standard, propofol which does cause problems when used to anaesthetise patiens, particularly being painful on injection and causing significant falls in blood pressure and breathing.

This study will explore whether SET is an efficacious therapy in helping individuals manage food cravings