ANZCTR search results

The 16-week observational study aims to explore the efficacy and safety outcomes of naturalistic Naturopathic treatment of people with depression or anxiety. The observational study aims to collect data from over 200 people clients of Naturopaths in Australia within 18 months. The primary aims of the study are to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Australian Naturopathy and Medical Herbalism on the outcome of depressed mood and anxiety, assess which interventions are being prescribed, and to explore client’s experiences of being treated by a Naturopath.

Exercises are commonly prescibed to improve shoulder range following a burn injury but the additional benefits of splinting is unclear. The primary aim of this study was to determine if splinting is a safe and feasible treatment option in patients with shoulder burns. Secondary aims were to determine if wearing a splint resulted in better shoulder range and function.

Single group study of efficacy in improving free flap donor sites by first integrating a biodegradable polyurethane dermal matrix before skin grafting.

The current study proposes to offer a short, online, automated well-being program, called Mindfulness Online, to assist in reducing psychological distress and improving overall mental well-being for couples or individuals undertaking IVF. The program is designed to be used during the lead up to an IVF cycle. A total of 50 couples undergoing standard IVF treatment will be randomised to either receive treatment as usual (wait-list control group) or complete the 3-week mindfulness program (treatment group). Couples (or individual women) will be offered the information form during consultation with their IVF specialist or after their mandatory pre-treatment counselling session. If they consent they will complete an online survey before and after the 3 week program containing demographic questionnaires plus measures of well-being, depression, anxiety, stress and mindfulness. IVF treatment outcomes will be recorded (e.g., pregnancy test results) and those in the treatment group will complete a compliance measure at the end of the program. The same surveys will also be administered to 25 couples undertaking the newer antagonist IVF cycle pre- and post-cycle to compare with the waitlist control group to see if there is any difference in stress/well-being measures between the two protocols.

To test whether image guided radiotherapy for prostate carcinoma has less treatment related side effects and impairment of quality of life when an endorectal balloon is inserted during the radiotherapy compared to image guided radiotherapy alone.

A comparison of two currently used treatments for a stiff painful shoulder (adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder). Under x-ray control a radiologist (X-Ray doctor) injects cortisone and local anaesthetic into the patient's shoulder joint. There are two groups of patients. One group then receives an additional injection of normal saline (up to around 50 mls of sterile salty water) to try to stretch the shoulder ligaments (capsule) . The patients are then assessed clinically and by questionnaire at 8 and 12 weeks post procedure to assess increased shoulder movement. Both techniques are curently used. if one is demonstrably better than the other then it may change clinical practice.

The firsrt aim of the study is to identify precisely how long a pudendal nerve block lasts and to find out how the different symptoms of pudendal neuralgia presented by the patient, evolve during the 52 hours following the pudendal nerve block. The second aim is to find out, for patients undergoing afterwards the pudendal nerve release surgery, if there is a correlation between the particular response to pudendal nerve block and the outcome after surgery. This will be a prospective study based on questionnaires. It will include a minimum of 50 women aged 18 or more, who had been referred to the Pudendal nerve Clinic in the Endogynaecology Department at the Royal Hospital for Women, who meet the entry criteria and who already consented to undergo a pudendal nerve block as part of their assessment. The participant will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, always the same, about her symptoms before, just after and then every 6 then 8 hours for 52 hours after the pudendal nerve block. If the patient undergoes a surgery to release the pudendal nerve entrapment, we will ask her to fill in that same questionnaire again 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery.

This study aims to reduce the emotional, psychosocial and physical needs of women being treated with radiotherapy for gynaecological cancer. We are investigating the benefits of a new program which combines specialist nurse consultations with telephone peer support before, during, and after treatment, compared to current standard care alone. Who is it for? Eligible patients for this trial are 18 years or older, have a confirmed diagnosis of gynaecological cancer, speak and read English, and are scheduled to receive radiotherapy with curative intent to the pelvis. Eligible peer support volunteers are women who are 18 years or older, have received radiotherapy to the pelvis for a gynaecological cancer at least 2years ago, and can speak and read English. Trial details: In this study, patients will be randomly allocated to either standard care currently offered at their hospital, or to standard care PLUS the trial support program involving nurse-led consultations and telephone peer support. The consultations and telephone support will focus on the physical, functional, psychological, sexual, informational and social needs of patients at four time-points: pre-treatment, mid-treatment, at the end of treatment, and post-treatment. Patients randomly allocated to the new program will have a nurse consultation (face-to-face or over the phone) and peer support telephone call at each of these time-points. All participants will complete 5 surveys over 14 months, so we can assess whether the new program improves patient outcomes. The first ACTRN relevant to this study is for the initial development & pilot testing phase: ACTRN12609000312246. A second ACTRN is for the phase III trial for which this study was the initial development & pilot testing phase has also been submitted: ACTRN12611000744954.

Gout is the most common inflammatory disease in the western hemisphere where its incidence seems to be rising. Allopurinol is a widely used and effective treatment for gout. It is used to lower plasma urate concentrations in the body, which in-turn prevents acute gout attacks. It's use, however, has been shown to be sub-optimal. Patients are not reaching target plasma urate concentrations recommended by treatment guidelines due to low dosing of allopurinol. Thus this project aims to understand the dose-response relationship of allopurinol and optimise the dose for patients, such that patients reach target plasma urate concentrations.

Researchers from the Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne and Deakin University are collaborating with Department of Human Services to measure the physical activity levels of office workers and to investigate the relationship between physical activity and health. Research over the last decade has shown that low overall activity patterns throughout the day increase the risk of many chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Findings from this project will provide us with valuable information to develop and improve workplace health promotion programs.