ANZCTR search results

The underlying hypothesis for CACHE is that patients with congestive heart failure who receive clopidogrel will experience fewer heart failure outcomes when compared to patients receiving aspirin.

Aim of the study: To validate the regression equations of the six-minute walk test and incremental shuttle walk test developed from previous study Hypothesis: Field walking tests can be used to prescribe lower limb exercise intensity in clinical rehabilitation

The purpose of this study is to investigate how initial infection with HIV affects the immune system. We would like to study the natural history of an untreated group of people newly infected with HIV.

Chronic heart failure is a common and debilitating condition and most commonly occurs in the elderly. Although physical activity is part of recommended self-management plans, older, community dwelling individuals find this challenging. We have developed a program, based on the well-validated six minute walk test, which not only provides the structure and motivation for the individual to undertake physical activity but also generates a measurement that can be used by patients and clinicians alike to monitor their functional status. In addition, this model of intervention will provide structured telephone follow-up to promote adherence to the treatment principles. This study will use a randomized controlled trail design to test if the Home-Heart-Walk program can improve self-management through increasing the participant’s self-efficacy for physical activity and their functional status and health related quality of life.

To describe current patterns of care of ‘long-term’ *survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma across Australia and New Zealand. * For the purposes of this study, we have defined ‘long-term survivors’ as those patients who are five years or more after their primary diagnosis of lymphoma

The main hypothesis of the study is that Heme Iron Polypeptide [HIP; Proferrin (registered trademark) ES] administration will more effectively augment iron stores in erythropoeitin stimulating agent-treated peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients than conventional oral iron supplementation [Ferrogradumet (Registered Trademark)]. Patients will be randomized to receive either slow-release ferrous sulphate (1 tablet twice daily; control) or HIP (1 tablet twice daily) orally for a period of 6 months. The study will follow an open-label design but outcome assessors will be blinded to study treatment. During this 6 month study period, haemoglobin levels will be measured monthly and iron studies (including transferring saturation [TSAT] measurements) will be performed bi-monthly (as per usual clinical practice). Patients will be reviewed by PD nursing staff monthly and by nephrologists bi-monthly (as per usual clinical practice). The primary outcome measure will be the difference in TSAT levels between the 2 groups at the end of the 6 month study period, adjusted for baseline values using analysis of covariance. Secondary outcome measures will include serum ferritin concentration, haemoglobin level, darbapoeitin dosage, Key’s index (darbapoetin dosage divided by haemoglobin concentration), and occurrence of adverse events (especially gastrointestinal adverse events).

The aim of this trial is to establish the ocular comfort profile with and without lens wear over a 12 hour period. The trial also aims to assess how the profiles are influenced by lens insertion at different times of the day and worn for four hours. The hypothesis for this trial is ocular comfort will decrease during the day and ocular comfort with lens wear will be rated worse than with no lens wear

The aim of this trial is to assess changes in ocular comfort during the day, and whether ocular comfort is influenced by new lens replacement or re-insertion with the same lens after a brief soak in saline, during the day. The trial also aims to assess ocular changes and whether these correlate with changes in comfort. The hypothesis for this trial is ocular comfort will decrease with lens wear during the day whether lenses are replaced, the same lens is re-inserted or the same lens is worn uninterrupted for the day.

We plan a randomised controlled double blinded trial to answer the question; does the regular use of a commercially available probiotic (Yakult) reduce the incidence and duration of diarrhea amongst geriatric inpatients (people aged =65yo)? The study population is all patients admitted to the sub-acute wards of St Vincent’s Hospital and St George’s Hospital during the period of the study. Recent antibiotic use in the last 2-8 weeks can commonly cause the complication of diarrhea. This can extend inpatient stay by 3-7 days, increase morbidity including dehydration and deconditioning due to illness, increase mortality by 2-3 times and cause hospital outbreaks of diarrhea in the general hospitalised population. The geriatric population admitted to subacute wards are frailer and have multiple co-morbidities. They have a higher incidence of recent antibiotic use and increased risk of complications developing secondary to diarrhea. All patients admitted to the subacute wards who meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate. They will be encouraged to drink the 65ml milk product twice a day which will be randomised as to whether it contains the probiotic. Basic demographic data will be collected from the patient chart including age, gender, medical co-morbidities, recent antibiotic use, and current medications. The patient bowel charts will be monitored to ascertain the incidence of diarrhea.

The aim of this project is to develop a doctor - pharmacist collaborative prescribing model and to consider alternative workforce models to better utilize clinical skills within the multi-disciplinary team to release medical staff time for diagnosis or more complex patients. The hypothesis of the project is that the collaborative doctor - pharmacist prescribing model provides at least as high a quality of care as usual care. Patients who have a diagnosis of HIV, have been previously medically assessed and are stable with regards to their disease will be considered for participation in the project. At their next appropriate appointment, the patient will be seen by their usual sexual health physician, given a patient information leaflet, and given the opportunity to participate in the study and provide written, informed consent. Patients will be randomised into one of two arms, to be either: -seen by their usual doctor and for their care to be managed in the usual way, or -seen by their usual doctor and the prescribing pharmacist with the aim of producing an agreed care plan, and for their subsequent appointments during the project to be managed by the prescribing pharmacist. The efficiencies of having the pharmacist responsible, under an agreed patient care plan, for all medication management aspects of the patients' appointment will be evaluated as follows. All patient consultations with the doctor or pharmacist will be audio-taped and assessed using the Medication Related Consultation Framework, for completeness of information gathered in the consultation. Patient's adherence to medications will be assessed using 3 methods, including: -pathology results (CD4 counts, viral load) -pharmacy records to establish dispensing frequency of medications -patient self-report adherence assessment tool. The completeness and legality of all prescriptions will be analysed. At the end of the study an independent, multidisciplinary panel, including doctors, pharmacists and nurses will review a random sample (50%) of patients. The panel will assess appropriateness of management and degree of concordance with the care plan. Patient satisfaction will be assessed using self-completion questionnaires. The multidisciplinary team within the clinic will be surveyed to assess their views and satisfaction on the pharmacy service before and after the project. Potential doctor time released as a result of the new model will be evaluated, as will increased access of patients to a prescriber.