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The first aim of the current project is to assess the utility of two methods of implementing an anxiety prevention program in schools. This will assist in identifying the most effective dissemination method to increase the implementation of mental health prevention programs in schools. The two methods that will be evaluated have been named the e-GAD school method and e-GAD health service method. The e-GAD school method will involve the delivery of an Internet-based anxiety prevention program in schools by classroom teachers, while the e-GAD health service method will involve the delivery of the same program in schools by classroom teachers who are aditionally assisted and supported by headspace education officers. The second aim of the current project is to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of the implemented Internet-based program (e-couch Anxiety and Worry program) in reducing and preventing symptoms of anxiety in an adolescent school-based population relative to usual classes (wait-list control). The trial will delimit the likely range of the benefit of using the e-couch Anxiety and Worry program as a universal, active school-based prevention program. Secondary aims of the trial are to evaluate the program's efect on participants' depressive symptoms, mental well-being, anxiety literacy, anxiety stigma, and help-seeking behaviour, attitudes and intentions.

There is growing concern about and awareness of the failure to recognise and appropriately manage deteriorating patients on the wards in hospitals. The consequence of not managing these deteriorating patients is evidenced by unplanned ICU admissions and in-hospital deaths. In April 2010, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released a National Consensus statement on the essential elements to recognising and responding to clinical deterioration. Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) is preparing to implement a multifaceted intervention to comply with these national recommendations. New ward observation charts will be introduced to two wards at RDH which will allow the recording of a modified early warning score (MEWS). High scores will automatically trigger the nurse at the bedside to call an appropriately qualified medical practitioner for a timely review of the patient and initiate earlier management. The roll out of this system will be preceded by a period of education for nursing and medical staff using the COMPASS program. I will review the use of MEWS observation charts and the morbidity and mortality of patients before and after this intervention on two wards at RDH.

This is a randomized, openlabel, national, multicenter, three arm, pilot, investigator initiated study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tenofovir 300 mg PO in combination with peginterferon alpha2a sc 180 µg in patients with HBeAg positive CHB. The patients will be randomized into three treatment arms at a ratio of 1:1:1 Arm 1: Full course combination therapy: 48 weeks of both peginterferon alpha2a plus Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Arm 2: Peginterferon alpha2a lead-in therapy: 24 weeks of a ‘lead in’ course of peginterferon monotherapy, followed by 24 weeks of combination peginterferon Arm 3: Peginterferon alpha2a 180mcg weekly for 48 weeks The study consists of four periods: Screening (= 8 weeks prior to Baseline visit), Baseline Visit (Day 1), Treatment Phase (48 weeks) Posttreatment Followup (24 weeks) Study purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the combination of Peginterferon and Tenofovir therapy may lead to improved antiviral outcomes compared to that typically seen with Peginterferon monotherapy. Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of the combination of peginterferon alpha-2a with Tenofovir in achieving sustained HBV suppression as measured by HBsAg loss in adult patients with HBeAg positive CHB Secondary objectives include 1. Evaluating the effect of on HBsAg clearance rates by a lead in phase of Peginterferon monotherapy for 24 weeks prior to combination therapy 2. Evaluating the effect of peginterferon and Tenofovir combination therapy on other parameters of viral suppression including 3. HBV DNA non-detectability, reduction from baseline, and sustained reduction in HBV DNA over the course of the study. 4. HBeAg loss, Anti-HBe seroconversion and reduction in HBeAg titres from baseline 5. HBsAg loss, HBsAb seroconversion and reduction in HBsAg titres from baseline 6. ALT normalization 7. To determine which baseline and ‘on therapy’ markers may be used to predict clinical and virological outcomes including quantitative HBeAg and HBsAg titres, HBV viral load, ALT and HBV genotype In addition a sub Immunological Study will be conducted at 2 of the study sites (Monash Medical Centre and St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne). Patients recruited at both sites will be invited to participate in smaller subcohort study evaluating innate immune during the treatment and follow up periods to determine whether innate immune function can be used as a predictive marker of treatment induced HBsAg and HBeAg seroconversion.

Each participant will receive physiotherapy treatment involving one-on-one education about physical activity for heart failure, including guidelines for walking and exercise while an inpatient at The Prince Charles Hospital. A walking and exercise program for home will also be provided before discharge. In addition, those in the walking group will receive twice daily walking supervised by a physiotherapist. Treatment will take up to 40 minutes each day to complete and will be carried out each day until discharge. All participants will undergo an assessment prior to discharge involving a walking test to measure walking capacity in 6 minutes and activity levels. Soon after discharge activity levels will again be monitored and all participants will receive surveys looking at quality of life and return to everyday activity in the community.

In treatment naïve HIV infected subjects, combination antiretroviral therapy including efavirenz combined with tenofovir and emtricitabine will offer non-inferior antiretroviral efficacy over 48 weeks, compared to either atazanavir boosted with ritonavir combined with tenofovir and emtricitabine or tenofovir and emtricitabine combined with zidovudine and abacavir, as assessed by change from baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load.

The recommended dosage for some drugs currently used to treat HIV infection is highly effective but clinical data suggests that the doses could be reduced without compromising their effectiveness. Lower drug doses could have fewer side effects and could be tolerated better, making it easier for people to take and stay on their anti-HIV medication. Dose reduction would also make the drugs cheaper; this would allow more people to be treated and free up money for other important work in the fight against HIV such as education and prevention programs. Two different regimens containing either the standard dose or a reduced dose of efavirenz will be compared: I. efavirenz 600mg + truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine) II. efavirenz 400mg + truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine) Tenofovir, emtricitabine and efavirenz are all licensed as individual drugs for the treatment of HIV disease in many countries around the world. Efavirenz is only licensed at the standard dose of 600mg. Emtricitabine and tenofovir are provided as a fixed dose combination that is not currently licensed in every country involved in this study. A fixed dose combination means that the two drugs are incorporated into one pill.

This study will assess the safety of THVD-201 and how well it is tolerated. It will investigate the effects on your bladder symptoms of THVD-201 compared to tolterodine alone, and placebo. The study will also investigate whether the combination treatment reduces the unwanted side effects associated with taking tolterodine alone.

This study formally investigates specific breathing exercises, using a threshold device, for patients who require a breathing machine. It is hoped that the study will demonstrate that this training reduces breathing muscle weakness and also enhances quality of life, with significant improvements even 2 weeks following weaning from the breathing machine. The results of this study will guide physiotherapists in the optimal treatment of breathing muscle weakness for patients who have needed a breathing machine.

Previous studies of “diastolic heart failure” have been limited by confusion about the definition of this entity, and evidence for specific treatments are undefined. The characterization of IFPE will permit us to identify a homogeneous group. However, the most appropriate therapeutic response to increased filling pressure causing exertional dyspnea is undefined.

This study will examine whether a correlation exists between contamination of contact lens cases with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and CIEs, when contact lenses and worn on a daily wear basis. The hypothesis is case contamination with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia does not correlate with CIEs.