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Aim: To assess the comparative effects of moderate-intensity walking and stationary cycling exercise programs on early post-operative recovery following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The most substantial long term morbidity from prostate cancer is sexual dysfunction with consequent adverse changes in couple and intimate relationships. Research to date has not identified an effective way to improve sexual and psychosocial adjustment for both men with prostate cancer and their partners. As well, the efficacy and cost effectiveness of peer counselling as opposed to professional models of service delivery has not yet been empirically tested. Proscan for Couples is a randomised control trial of a couples-based intervention that targets the specific challenges couples experience at diagnosis of localised prostate cancer and after radical prostatectomy. Intervention components include psycho-education; cognitive behavioural strategies; couple relationship education focussed on relationship enhancement and helping the couple to conjointly manage the stresses of cancer diagnosis and treatment; and specific psychosexual education and sexual communication. An audiovisual DVD resource supports the intervention that can be delivered with peer or nurse counselling. We will evaluate the efficacy of this intervention in a three arm randomised controlled trial comparing (1) usual care; (2) eight sessions of peer-delivered telephone support with the audiovisual resource; and (3) eight sessions of oncology nurse-delivered telephone counselling with the audiovisual resource. The trial will involve 210 couples with 70 couples in each condition (420 participants in total).

A randomised controlled trial of a Respiratory Function Monitor during positive pressure ventilation (intervention) compared to positive pressure ventilation (control) (in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines) during resuscitation of infants. The duration of the trial is 12 months; we anticipate completing recruitment in October 2009. Does the use of a respiratory Function Monitor during positive pressure ventilation reduce face mask leak and improve the target tidal volume in the first ten minutes of life? During the stressful event of neonatal resuscitation neonatologists do not consider the tidal volume (VT) they deliver, or if there is a leak between the face and the mask. We hypothesis that a respiratory function monitor will reduce the face mask leak and support the clinician to deliver the target tidal volume during positive pressure ventilation. Ventilation using a face mask is the main technique used to support infants who breathe inadequately immediately after birth. However, a major problem is the often large and variable gas leak between the mask and face. Face mask leak occurs frequently, even for experienced operators and seriously affects the delivered tidal volume. The tidal volume changes as the leak changes, even though the same inflating pressure is used. In practice this means that for the same inflating pressure the tidal volume may be low, appropriate or excessive depending on the leak. Furthermore immediately after birth it is not possible to deliver an appropriate tidal volume using ventilation with a set pressure because the compliance of the lung varies from infant to infant and during the course of lung aeration. It is therefore necessary to measure and adjust the tidal volumes delivered during positive pressure ventilation in the minutes after birth, especially in very preterm infants. We hypothesis that a respiratory function monitor will reduce the face mask leak and support the clinician to deliver the target tidal volume during positive pressure ventilation.

Rib fractures are a common injury. They can cause significant pain and lead to serious complications including death. Pain can affect the recovery from rib fracture, in particular how quickly a patient gets back to work or their activities of daily living. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the operative management of patients with displaced (severe) rib fractures, via fixation of the fractures with an absorbable mesh plate, i) decreases the complications patients suffer from these injuries while in hospital, and ii) improves pain so that they can get back to work and normal activities quicker, and with an improved quality of life.

Dendritic cells will be grown from metastatic melanoma patients' peripheral blood and used to present common tumour antigens (peptides) or tumour extracts as a vaccine. In addition, some patients will receive low dose IL-2 in addition to their vaccine. IL-2 has been shown to increase the life of cytotoxic lymphocytes generated in animal and human vaccines.

No studies to our knowledge have been published on the use of aquatic physiotherapy from Day 4 post-operatively after THR or TKR surgery. This randomised controlled trial was therefore undertaken to investigate whether inpatient aquatic physiotherapy from Day 4 in addition to usual ward physiotherapy improved early functional recovery more than non-specific water exercise or additional ward physiotherapy. The primary endpoint of the trial was Day 14. Considering the usual level of activity in healthy older people, rehabilitation to optimal function after joint replacement is usually the aim of physiotherapy. Reduced strength and gait dysfunction can persist for many months after joint replacement. If return to normal function and activity is the goal of physiotherapy intervention after joint replacement surgery, follow-up beyond the early post-acute phase is important to understand the longer term impact of early rehabilitation. Participants were therefore followed up for six months after surgery to more thoroughly gauge functional recovery.

Observation of difference in insertion time, complications and patient satisfaction of Peripheral inserted central catheters with and without ultrasound

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a test for measuring functional mobility and falls. It is quick, easy to perform and reliable in a clinic setting. Rehabilitation in the Home (RITH) physiotherapists utilise the TUG test to assess and reassess clients in their home environment. However, there is no data on the reliability of TUG in the home environment. It is also difficult to complete the test with the recommended seat height in the home environment. This study aims to investigate the reliability of the TUG in the home environment, compared to the outpatient setting and to determine the reliability of the TUG when a non-standard chair is utilised for the testing.

Study in healthy adult subjects of an antigen-sparing influenza vaccine strategy incorporating an immune enhancing polysaccharide in the normal influenza vaccine