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Fear of dental anaesthetic injection can produce anxiety and contribute to dental phobia. Recently, alternative methods for producing effective anaesthesia that reduce the pain experienced during dental procedures have been investigated. One such method is Photobiomodulation (PBM) which uses light to transiently block nerve transmission of pain. Clinical trials have shown that some lasers can generate analgesia using PBM. For example, Sattayut et al in 2014 used a 790nm diode laser (27.69 J/cm2) before palatal injections and found the level of analgesia to be similar to a 20% benzocaine topical gel. Similarly, Khan et al in 2023 found topical anaesthesia produced by a 980nm diode laser (15 J/cm2) to be superior to 2% Lidocaine gel in the administration of inferior alveolar nerve blocks. There are currently no studies that have investigated the efficacy of LED devices utilising PBM for topical anaesthesia before dental injections (inferior alveolar nerve block, palatal infiltration, palatal block and buccal infiltration). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether a polychromatic light emitting diode (LED) device (Nuralyte®, Dentroid Canberra, Australia) can lower pain for dental injections when compared with traditional topical anaesthetic gel (5% xylocaine). It is hypothesised that the multiwavelength LED device (Nuralyte®, Dentroid Canberra, Australia) will lower pain from pain dental injections signifi cantly when compared to topical anaesthetic gel (5% xylocaine). This study is being completed as part of Dr Jessica Zachar's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at The University of Queensland.

Dental local anaesthetic injections cause prolonged numbness of the oral and peri-oral tissues, lasting several hours. This impairs normal functions. Patients can experience self-inflicted injuries such as biting of the cheek and tongue particularly in children. Hence there is interest in methods that can reduce the duration of numbness after dental injections. Three recent studies have shown that visible red diode laser radiation (660 or 810 nm) can give a useful reduction in duration of numbness after dental injections in children, reducing the time of lip numbness by 40-56 minutes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a polychromatic light emitting diode device (e (Nuralyte®, Dentroid Canberra, Australia) that emits visible red and near infrared light can likewise reducing the time of numbness, in both adults and children, after dental injections, comparing the active light source to sham irradiation (single blinding for the participants). It is hypothesised that the multiwavelength LED device (Nuralyte®, Dentroid Canberra, Australia) will reduce the numbness time significantly when compared to the sham exposure.

A comparison of a concurrent cognitive and physical training intervention, compared to physical or cognitive training alone, in improving cognitive function and driving skills within an ageing population.

The primary purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of a unique wearable device, the Good Nose Air Buds, in older adults attending a gym. This device is designed to simulate 'humming breathing', a yoga practice known for its health benefits, potentially enhancing exercise performance and wellbeing. Our hypothesis is that the use of this device will be feasible and well-received by older adults and gym staff, and that it may lead to improvements in physical activity levels, sleep, self-perceived stress, and quality of life. This study will involve older adults using the device during their regular gym sessions, with their experiences and feedback being collected through interviews and questionnaires. The outcomes of this study will help us understand if this innovative device could be a practical and effective tool for promoting exercise and wellbeing in older adults.

Thousands of older Australians with hip, knee and low back pain are referred for surgical consultation, wait extended periods without alternative evidence-based care, and 75% have three or more chronic disease risks (e.g., overweight, smoker). We previously found a Healthy Lifestyle program for Pain (HeLP) reduced disability and improved quality of life. Now we seek to test the best method to scale up the program. We will test if the telehealth delivery of HeLP is as effective as face-to-face delivery on a range of patient-reported measures in older people with long-standing hip, knee and lower back pain. We expect to find similar results between groups.

Epilepsy surgery is the best treatment option for people living with epilepsy that cannot be controlled with medication alone, also known as drug resistant epilepsy. In people living with drug resistant epilepsy, epilepsy surgery offers a better chance of stopping seizures than medications alone, however, not all patients who have epilepsy surgery become seizure free. Many research studies that have tried to understand why some patients do not become seizure free after epilepsy surgery have focused on population data rather than looking at patients on an individual level. We have developed a tool that uses machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to make a personalised prediction of the outcome following epilepsy surgery. In its development, this tool used the brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and positron emission tomography [PET] scans), as well as the actual surgical area, of patients who have already had epilepsy surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of the tool when using the intended/ planned surgery in place of the actual resection region.

Within Gold Coast Health all patients the average length of stay for patients who have their knee joint replaced (total knee arthroplasty) is between three to five days, however, variation exists. During the stay, PRN analgesics are frequently used by the patients to relieve post operative pain. This study aims to investigate the correlation between pre-operative factors, such as resilience score and physical function on post operative length of stay/PRN analgesia use. Thus, it may provide opportunities for clinicians to optimise patient’s pre operative status, which would have the potential to reduce both length of hospital stay and PRN analgesia use.

Positional obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a subtype of OSA in which the obstructive problem occurs when the child sleeps supine (on their back). We hypothesise that children with positional OSA will have less obstructive problems/events and less sleep related symptoms identified on their sleep study (polysomnography) when wearing a positional OSA device as a treatment, compared to without this device. We are aiming to conduct a pilot study to begin with, recruiting twelve participants.

Doctors do not currently know the best way to care for babies with BPD after they go home from hospital. The Lungs for Life study will compare two ways of caring for babies with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) after they go home from hospital. Babies in the study will receive either (a) a digital care package including oxygen monitoring; or (b) the usual care for babies with BPD. We want to find out whether the digital care package helps babies, their families and healthcare professionals. If it does, we may be able to standardise care and improve the treatment of BPD.

This is a blinded, non-inferiority, randomised control trial, in females aged 18-40 years undergoing general anaesthesia. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether different depths of anaesthesia affect quality of recovery post-operatively. Healthy participants, aged 18-40, will be recruited from surgical lists and enrolled prior to surgery. Data collection will occur intra-operatively, post-operatively in recovery and at 24-hours and 7-days post-operation. We hypothesise that depth of anaesthesia will not affect quality of recovery in young female patients undergoing general anaesthesia.