ANZCTR search results

The purpose of this study was to examine whether online training could improve Australian dietitians’ capability, opportunity, and motivation towards using specific behaviour change techniques, and their application of these techniques in their practice. Dietitians were randomly assigned to the intervention group, where they completed two interactive online workshops or to the control group who continued on with their usual practice. We expected that those who completed the training would show greater improvements in capability, opportunity, motivation, and the number of and frequency of behaviour change techniques compared with those in the control group.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic heart rhythm problem and controlling risk factors are pivotal in management. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) has emerged as an independent risk factor for AF and is defined by repetitive airway obstruction during sleep which overtime gives rise to AF. Conventional therapy is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) which is worn during sleep to prevent airway collapse. However, CPAP therapy is not all tolerated and Mandibular advancement splints (MAS) device has emerged as alternative therapy to CPAP. Customized MAS is worn during sleep which repositions the jaw anteriorly to keep airway patent. This study aims to evaluate the impact of patient centred approach in management of OSA on AF burden.

This research project will test a new technology called the "Smart Footprint System" and aims to help people, with diabetes, to understand if they have differing foot temperatures to help with foot care. People with diabetes are at high risk of foot wounds, called ulcerations. This new technology can check foot temperature by standing on a mat called the "Smart Footprint" and then sending this information to an App, the "Smart Footprint" App. The mat measures skin temperature on both feet to see if there is a temperature difference between the two feet. If there is, it could mean an ulcer is forming. The aim of this research is to understand if people are willing and able to use the "Smart Footprint System" in their home and also, what worked well and what was challenging when using the system. Research participants need to be 18 or older with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and with a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. For this study 12 participants will be recruited and these will come from two sites, one metro and one regional. This project will measure data from the system but also collect interview data from individuals. It is hoped that this project can show if this system works for people using it in their own home.

In response to growing concerns about the effects of social media on young people’s health and wellbeing, the Australian Government has announced plans to restrict access to social media platforms for children and adolescents aged under 16 years of age, to be enforced through age verification systems. This study aims to assess the potential impact of the national social media age restrictions on adolescent social media use and wellbeing outcomes. This study will collect self-reported data from parent-adolescent dyads (aged 12-17 years) via three surveys conducted before and after (3- and 12-months) the social media age restrictions are implemented. Measures will assess changes to adolescent mental health, sleep quality, physical activity, nutrition, and patterns of social media use prior to, and after, the age restrictions are implemented. The findings will provide timely evidence to inform public health and digital policy and contribute to the limited literature on large-scale social media regulation.

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing patient outcomes in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with one of two autograft constructs: 1) a hamstring tendon (HT) autograft, or 2) a peroneus longus tendon (PLT) autograft. Patient outcomes will be collected and compared between the two surgical autograft cohorts over a 24 month post-operative period. This will include limb symmetry index of peak isokinetic knee flexor strength at 12 months (primary outcome variable), a range of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), objective measures including anterior knee laxity, knee range of motion (ROM), quadriceps and hamstring strength, ankle eversion and plantarflexion strength, and functional performance tests including single limb hop and vertical/horizontal jump capacity. Donor site morbidity will also be assessed using specific questionnaires and patient-reported measures. It is hypothesised that patients undergoing ACL reconstruction via PLT autograft, will have earlier recovery of knee flexion strength and lower donor site morbidity compared with patients receiving a HT autograft.

This study will test whether a mobile “tap-per-breath” application helps paramedic students measure a patient’s breathing rate more accurately and quickly than the current standard method of using a watch or clock. Participants will complete two simulated patient assessments, one using the app and one using the traditional method. The study hypothesis is that the tap-per-breath application will improve the accuracy and efficiency of respiratory rate measurement, while reducing the mental effort required.

This study aims to better understand how obesity and type 2 diabetes affect the heart before symptoms or disease are clinically diagnosed. We will use advanced MRI scans and blood tests to measure heart structure, function, energy use, fat content, and blood vessel health. Participants will include healthy adults and those with obesity or type 2 diabetes. The results will help researchers identify early warning signs of heart disease and improve how we prevent or treat it in the future. All participants will attend one research visit at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.

Depression is a highly recurrent disorder (Katon et al, 2001; Kessing et al., 2004). Research has shown that symptoms of depression are related to a difficulty retrieving personal memories and imagining future events that you might personally experience, and that these difficulties may persist in people with remitted depression (Gamble et al., 2019; Hallford, Rusanov et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2013). Therefore, targeting these cognitive processes may be advantageous for individuals with remitted MDD. To the author’s knowledge, no study to date has trialled an intervention that targets autobiographical thinking pathways in order to reduce severity of cognitive vulnerability factors associated with depressive relapse in individuals with remitted MDD. Aim: Conduct a proof-of-concept pilot trial to test an Autobiographical Thinking Training Program in people with Remitted MDD. Objectives: Examine whether this program has an effect on autobiographical thinking (memory and future thinking) by the 3 month endpoint (primary outcome); as well as secondary outcomes of depressive symptoms, anticipatory pleasure, suicidal ideation, anxiety symptoms, psychosocial functioning, self-efficacy, self-esteem, behavioural activation, perceived control, optimism and meaning in life. Hypotheses: 1. Participants in the Autobiographical Thinking Training (ATT) will report significantly increased autobiographical thinking (i.e., specificity, detail, imagery, vividness of memories and future thoughts) at post-intervention, and at the 3 month follow-up. 2. Participants will report significantly fewer depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and anxiety symptoms; and significantly increased anticipatory pleasure, psychosocial

The Gulibaa project is an Indigenous-led and community embedded project to co-design, implement and evaluate a model of care to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be smoke and vape-free. The aim of the Gulibaa project is to reduce the prevalence of smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by developing and implementing group-based smoking cessation care within Aboriginal Health Services. We hypothesis that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who attend the group-based program will increase self-reported abstinence and quit attempt frequency.

The purpose of this research is to compare the new Kali Monitoring System to standard-of-care cardiotocography, and evaluate its reliability, safety and usability.