ANZCTR search results

There is little evidence that indicates which anti-emetic (a drug to treat nausea and vomiting) is most effective in the Emergency and pre-hospital setting despite the widespread clinical use of the agents. The aim of this study is to undertake a randomised controlled trial in the pre-hospital setting to evaluate the efficacy of 3 commonly used anti-emetics.

The purpose of this study is to compare the penetration of Diclofenac with the penetration enhancer Tocopheryl Phosphate Mix (TPM) across intact skin against a currently marketed treatment Voltaren Gel. For the first visit you will be randomly allocated to receive a topical application of one of TPM/Diclofenac HS, TPM/Diclofenac LS or Voltaren Gel applied to your back. At the second visit you will receive a topical application of another one of TPM/Diclofenac HS, TPM/Diclofenac LS or Voltaren Gel, different to the treatment you received at the first visit. At the third visit you will receive a topical application of the other one of TPM/Diclofenac HS, TPM/Diclofenac LS or Voltaren Gel, different to the treatments you received at the first and second visits. At the fourth visit, you will receive all three treatments and undergo a procedure called skin stripping to evaluate how well Diclofenac penetrates the skin. For each of the visits you will stay at the study centre for approximately 6 hours after the gel has been applied. You will then be required to return to the study centre for approximately 1 hour for a follow up visit. Blood samples will be collected in visits 1, 2 and 3 (8 samples per visit) by either cannula or venipuncture. A total of 192 mL of blood will be collected during the study, which includes the amount required for the clinical laboratory tests and for the measurement of Diclofenac in your blood.

The study will explore the use of health professional facilitated sessions aiming to challenge perceived barriers to participating in physical activity amongst Macedonian and Polish older people (55+) in the Western Metropolitan Region (WMR) of Melbourne. The study has the following aims: · to determine whether a health professional facilitated education intervention increases physical activity and fitness amongst the target population; · to determine whether a health professional facilitated education intervention assists the target population to progress in their readiness to undertake physical activity; and The primary study hypothesis for the project is: · that a health professional facilitated education session program targeting identified barriers to physical activity for two CALD groups (Polish and Macedonian) will result in improved readiness to undertake physical activity and improved participation in physical activity.

This collaborative project between National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) addresses vision related needs for older people in low-level residential care. The project involves three facilities; one in Geelong and two in Melbourne. The project aims to screen residents to quantify the magnitude of vision impairment among people in residential aged care facilities, and to conduct environmental audits to determine the extent of environmental factors influencing function and quality of life in this setting. Following this, a collaborative approach with each facility’s key staff members, residents and carers will determine how the problems identified will be addressed. Interventions will include: referral for further assessment where indicated; provision of corrective lenses for those with correctable visual impairments; environmental modification to address factors affecting function and safety; staff training about screening and management / referral options for residents with visual impairment (including consideration of environmental factors for residents with impaired vision) and information for residents and carers to maximise vision and environmental safety. In order to assess the effectiveness of the management plans, data will be collected (before and after the intervention) about falls rates, vision screening, environmental hazards and residents’ functional status and wellbeing. Key learnings from the project will be compiled as user-friendly resources that can be accessed by other residential care facilities enabling them to adopt a similar approach. The project will be undertaken over 18 months and is due for completion in February 2009.

To examine the usefulness of a cognitive behavioural intervention to reduce chronic disease risk factors in mid-life and older women.

This is a substudy of the Frailty Intervention Trial - FIT (ACTRN12608000250336). Please refer to ACTRN12608000250336 for a brief summary of the FIT. Informal support is an important part of the total care provided to frail older people and essential to the implementation of patient interventions. However, the examination of informal carers’ experience of a patient intervention is rarely measured. Informal carer experience is an important consideration, particularly in terms of them maintaining their role and quality of care for the frail older person. The aim of this cohort sub study is to compare the effects of a multidisciplinary frailty intervention to usual care of a frail older person living in the community on informal carers’ experience of caregiving. An informal carer is a person who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend who needs help in their daily activities. This ranges from supervision to assistance with personal care, mobility and communication, through to emotional support and practical and financial assistance. Informal carers are key players or partners in the caregiving process and so a concern for their well-being is of importance, particularly in terms of them maintaining their role and quality of care for the frail older patient. As the population ages, the role of the informal carer will become more significant and providing them with appropriate support will be vital. Informal carers of the participants in the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT)(ACTRN12608000250336) will be invited to participate. A background questionnaire delivered at baseline will determine sociodemographic characteristics, caregiving tasks and care duration. The impact of the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT) (ACTRN12608000250336) on informal carer’s experience will be measured using three validated carer assessment tools at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. A follow-up measure will also be gathered at 15-18 months. The informal carers will also be given the opportunity to discuss their caregiving experience in a semi-structured interview at 12 months after the baseline questionnaire. The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of The Frailty Intervention (FIT) on informal carers’ positive and negative aspects of caregiving. The secondary objective is to obtain a more sensitive and deeper understanding of the informal carers’ experience via a semi-structured interview. Evaluation of the impact of the Frailty Intervention Trial (FIT)(ACTRN12608000250336) on informal carers’ experience will increase our understanding of aspects of their caregiving by providing insight into carers’ perspectives, highlighting complexities and daily realities of care. In addition, it will provide us with information on how informal carers may be integrated more effectively into the implementation of frailty interventions for older people.

The QASC study developed and trialed a multidisciplinary team building intervention to improve management of fever, raised blood glucose levels and swallowing difficulties in patients following acute stroke. We randomised 19 acute stroke units in NSW, Australia to the intervention (n=10) or control (n=9) group and patient data was obtained from 1696 participants. Results of the trial showed that patients cared for in intervention stroke units were significantly less likely to be dead or dependent 90-days following admission to the stroke unit (p = 0.002; NNT = 6.4; adjusted absolute difference = 15.7% (95% CI 5.8 – 25.4)). These patients also had improved mean SF-36 physical health component summary score (45.6 (SD 10.2)) compared to those in the control group (42.5 (SD 10.5), p = 002). No improvements were noted in the mean SF-36 mental component score (49.5 (SD 10.9) vs. 49.4 (SD 10.6); p = 0.69). There no were no statistically significance in levels of functional dependency between the two groups as measured a Barthel Index score > 60 (92% vs 90%; p = 0.44). The study protocols for management of fever, hyperglycaemia and swallowing; and the implementation strategy are available at www.acu.edu.au/QASC.

Adequate nutrition is important to allow patients in the Intensive Care Unit the best chance to recover from their illness. The most common method of feeding patients is through a tube into the gut. However, due to their illness many of these patients have very high levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream, which can have a negative effect on their recovery. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a naturally occurring hormone, called Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), can help lower blood glucose levels and improve the outcome of patients in Intensive Care. GLP-1 is a gastrointestinal hormone that is normally released into the bloodstream in response to a meal.

The study aims to find out whether Mental Health First Aid training tailored for high school teachers improves their knowledge of mental health problems, reduces stigmatizing attitudes, and increases the help that teachers provide to students with mental health problems.

To determine whether SSRI are effective in reducing impulsive behaviour in repeat violent offenders.