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The aim of the research project is to compare a family-centred model of care in paediatric speech pathology with usual paediatric speech pathology practice performed at Ballarat Health Services. The project will also explore parent/carer satisfaction/dissatisfaction with family-centred care. Hypotheses 1. The family-centred model of care will produce similar speech and language outcomes compared to usual speech pathology practice. 2. Goals (as measured by the Goal Attainment Scale) will be achieved more successfully following a family-centred model of care compared to usual speech pathology practice. 3. Parents will be more satisfied with the family-centred model of care compared to those whose children participate in the usual practice model.

The aim of the study is to examine the connection between bone metabolism and glucose homeostasis in healthy young individuals. In addition this project will provide experimental evidence on the effects of power and aerobic exercises on the secretion of osteocalcin, a hormone produced by bones that may also have a role in glucose metabolism. No previous research has examined the role tat bone might play in glucose regulation. This study will add important new information regarding the effects of exercise on bone metabolism and its connection to glucose control. Specific aim To examine the acute effects of power and aerobic exercise on bone metabolism in healthy young individuals. Studies hypotheses Acute effects of exercise on bone and metabolism i. An increase in unc-OC will occur as part of the acute response to exercise ii. Power exercise will result in greater increases in unc-OC, compared to the acute effects of aerobic exercise.

Ill newborns frequently need breathing tubes inserted into their trachea in order to help with their breathing. This can cause pain and adverse physiological responses, such as changes in blood pressure, which may be harmful to the infant. We routinely give these infants medications beforehand, to lessen the impact the procedure has on them. The best drug or drug combination in infants is not known. In our neonatal unit, we use a combination of Morphine and Midazolam, which may not be ideal, as it takes long to work. We aim to compare these 2 drugs with a single agent, Propofol, an anaesthetic agent, used in theatres to insert breathing tubes. We do not know which of these drugs are better, that is why we have started this study. The study is expected to run for 18 months.

The aim of this project is to evaluate the extent to which the SA Family Home Visiting Program improves the health and well-being of mothers and infants during the two years after families enroll in the program. To evaluate the longer term effectiveness of the program when children are age 5 years.

This a randomised controlled trial of a website called Australian Cancer Trials Online. This website provides information about cancer clinical trials in Australia. The trial will look at the effect of the website on clinial trial recruitment and doctor patient communication about cancer clinical trials.

We tested the hypothesis that pre-operative forced-air warming is as effective for anxiolysis as intravenous midazolam, using a blinded, placebo controlled factorial design. One hundred and twenty patients were randomly assigned to cotton blanket and saline injection (n = 30), forced-air warmer and saline injection (n = 30), midazolam 30 lg.kg)1 and cotton blanket (n = 30), and forced-air warmer and midazolam 30 lg.kg)1 (n = 30). Patients completed visual analogue scales for anxiety and thermal comfort, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, at baseline and after 20 min. The estimated effect of midazolam on visual analogue scores for anxiety was )10 (95% CI )3 to )18; p = 0.007) and on state anxiety was )5 (95% CI )7 to )4; p = 0.03). Warming had no influence on visual analogue scores for anxiety (p = 0.50) or state anxiety (p = 0.33), but its estimated effect on thermal comfort was +23 (95% CI 19–27; p < 0.0001). There was no interaction between midazolam and warming. Pre-operative warming was not equivalent to midazolam for anxiolysis and cannot be recommended solely for this purpose.

One in ten Australians suffer from long-term low back pain (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2000). Long-term low back pain is extremely difficult to treat because it does not respond to most treatments, leading to an enormous social and economic burden. Exercise therapy may provide a potential solution as there is biological plausibility for effect. However, the types of exercise to be used and resulting efficacy have not been well established. Tai chi has been used as an exercise prescription as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years. Recent studies have shown that tai chi is a safe exercise for elderly adults suffering from arthritis (Kirstiens 1991). Since a high percentage of patients with long-term low back pain are over 55yrs, tai chi should also be considered as a potential exercise in the treatment plan for this group. However, there are few randomised controlled trials studying tai chi and its efficacy for improving pain is not well known. We propose to conduct the first randomised-controlled trial of tai chi exercise for those who have long-term low back pain, which will inform best practice for managing long-term low back pain in clinical settings.