ANZCTR search results

Metoclopramide is a frequently used drug in emergency departments. It can cause unpleasant side effects called akathisia. We are trying to find out if giving the metoclopramide slowly makes getting akathisia less likely.

Children with cerebral palsy benefit from therapy that is goal-directed in their daily activities and environment. It is hypothesised that their parent’s contribution via home exercise programming is also important for goal achievement. This hypothesis has not been tested in a randomised controlled trial, the appropriate research design for studying intervention effectiveness. Benefits of home programs have been shown in my earlier Masters pilot study, which lacked a controlled comparison group. When measuring children, any improvements observed may be due to maturation and therefore a control group is the preferable design. This study will address this gap

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood, with a significant lifelong impact on the person, their family and the community. It is estimated that 1:400 children are born with cerebral palsy (Stanley et al, 2000), with over 600 new cases diagnosed in Australia each year. At present there is no known cure for this condition (Stanley et al, 2000) however the methods for the treatment of its symptoms, such as muscle spasticity, are well documented. It is known that the combination of occupational therapy along with botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injections (Lowe, Novak & Cusick, 2005; Wallen, O’Flaherty & Waugh 2004) and best-practice home programs (Novak, Cusick & Lowe, 2005) can produce positive outcomes for improving function and manage the symptoms of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (Corry & Graham, 1994; Delago, 2002; Leach, 1997; Russman, Tilton & Gromley, 1997). It is therefore worth investigating the nature and extent of parental input and determine whether or not intensive provider delivered therapy intervention following upper limb botulinum toxin injections will lead to greater desirable outcome in the daily functioning of a child with cerebral palsy. The results of this research project will provide valuable data for determining therapy intensity and the conditions and processes that affect the treatment process. This will help inform decisions by health professionals and families regarding the type, amount, model and method of therapy to be used following BOTOX® injections, thus guiding best practice, use of time, resources and funding in the treatment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. There is thus a clear gap in research literature regarding provider-based intense therapy effectiveness that needs to be filled.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of on an on-line web based intervention for bipolar disorder. The intervention utilises techniques and strategies found to be successful in previous psychosocial interventions conducted in face-to-face groups. The study also uses the experience of similar online studies in the area of unipolar depression and anxiety.The intervention comprises a number of modules including an introduction to the project, understanding bipolar disorder, stress and triggers of illness, medication management, managing and monitoring prodromes of depression, mania and hypomania and relapse prevention plans. The modules contain psycho-education along with specific strategies for participants to utilize in the management of the illness. The intervention also contains a moderated discussion board to develop a sense of support between participants and reduce feelings of stigma and isolation. The active intervention group described will be compared to an online information only group with moderated discussion.

This project aims to determine whether training in and use of a brief cognitive impairment screening tool and training in dementia management guidelines can improve diagnostic rates, management techniques and patient and carer outcomes compared with General Practitioners (GPs) who are not so trained and their patients and carers who undergo usual care. It will also evaluate the benefits of screening as opposed to case finding for early dementia in general practice.

Literature and clinical experience have shown that children undergoing major spinal surgery or craniotomy are at particular risk of low sodium levels. The optimal management of fluid and electrolytes in this group of children has received much attention in the literature, but to date there is still no consensus on this matter. Although many studies have described post-operative hyponatraemia, there has not been to our knowledge a prospectively conducted randomised controlled trial of the post-operative use of hypotonic dextrose/saline (standard paediatric intravenous fluid therapy) versus isotonic saline therapy following major corrective spinal surgery or craniotomy to prevent hyponatraemia in a paediatric population. We will be conducting a randomised controlled trial of Hartmann's and 5% Dextrose compared with 0.45% Sodium Chloride and 5% Dextrose. We hypothesise that Hartman's and 5% Glucouse will minimise the postoperative fall in serum sodium following spinal surgery and craniotomy.

Hypothesis The null hypotheses are: 1. In women with an hCG ratio < 0.8 (fall in serum hCG over 48 h of more than 20%) there is no difference in success of conservative management whether managed expectantly or medically with methotrexate. 2. In women with an hCG ratio > 0.8 surgery is needed whether or not methotrexate is given as first line management.

Patients with stage I and II low grade follicular lymphoma are randomised between standard therapy (involved field radiotherapy) and investigational therapy (involved field radiotherapy plus chemotherapy). The main endpoint is progression free survival but overall survival and the influence of t(14;18) status will also be studied.

Osteolymphoma is a cancer of the bone marrow that responds well to radiation therapy and chemotherapy but may come back in other parts of the body. This trial will determine the results of combining radiation therapy and chemotherapy in a standardised way.

The surgical facemask has been in use in operating theatres to protect patients from infection since the late 1800s. More recently, the focus has changed from protecting the patient, to protecting staff from splashes of body fluids. Although the mask is clearly useful for scrubbed staff for this purpose, it remains unclear whether wearing face-masks by unscrubbed operating room staff results in any benefit or harm to the patient undergoing surgery. The objective of the current study is to use a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of wearing a face mask, by non-scrubbed operating room staff, on surgical site infection (primary outcome) and cost (secondary outcome). This will be the largest such trial to be undertaken and results will have broad implications for Queensland Health across the state.