ANZCTR search results

The proposed study will investigate a novel approach to delivering naturopathy to people with endometriosis using a group visit model based on the shared medical appointment model. The study aims to assess the feasibility of a program of group-delivered naturopathic consultations specific to the needs of people with endometriosis, and to examine health outcomes for people who participate in the intervention. The study will be a non-randomised quasi-experimental design with four cohorts of 5-10 participants who will participate in a 12 week program including six fortnightly group consultations lasting approximately 2 hours per fortnight. This study hypothesises that group-delivered naturopathy will be well-received and improve health outcomes for people with endometriosis.

This project uses an advanced ultrasound technique called Shear Wave Elastography to assess the stiffness of muscles in stroke survivors. Shear Wave Elastography can determine the stiffness of tissue by measuring the Shear Wave Velocity, with stiffer tissues returning a higher velocity. After a stroke, the muscles may develop an increased stiffness which is typically assessed clinically, however SWE will be able to detect small changes more accurately and reliably than the current clinical assessment. This prospective cohort project aims to measure stiffness during the first four weeks after a stroke as the stiffness develops. A qualified Sonographer will perform the scans bedside at Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Stroke survivors will have their biceps muscle and biceps tendon scanned twice a week, for the first four weeks after their stroke. Both the affected and non-affected side will be assessed, with the elbow in both full extension, and 30 degrees flexion. It is hypothesised that as the participants stiffness develops the recorded Shear Wave velocities will increase and will correlate with the clinical assessments.

This study aims to validate the newly-developed eDIS-ICU app for the screening of delirium in adult intensive care patients. This study will be completed at five sites in three different countries (Australia, Estonia and Japan), and will recruit 700 patients total. The app will be validated against the 'gold standard' of delirium screening (DSM-V assessment by a specialist clinician), and also compared to the current standard of practice ICU delirium screening tool (CAM-ICU). If validated, the eDIS-ICU app will be freely available and able to be easily implemented and used in clinical practice by bedside clinicians will no prior training. This will assist in improving delirium screening and diagnostic rates, and thereby assist in improving patients outcomes.

Laparoscopy is a commonly performed gynaecological procedure. Studies evaluating post-laparoscopic gynaecological surgery pain suggest post-operative pain is experienced by 35–65% of women. One study demonstrated that ~46% of patients post-laparoscopy were in severe pain and required significantly greater amounts of analgesia than patients undergoing laparotomy. Virtual reality (VR) is a technological medium that is used to create simulated scenarios in which users are immersed and able to interact with through stimulation of the senses. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in medicine for its potential to provide pain relief with positive results being reported. The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is not yet fully understood, but is attributed to its ability to distract users from perceiving pain and also due to neurophysiological changes that result from long-term use. Given the potential of VR to facilitate analgesia, this study hypothesises that VR technology can reduce pain and analgesic requirements with minimal side effects to provide a solution to the existing clinical gap.

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a 12-week exercise intervention on mood, quality of life (QOL) and exercise capacity of people in a residential opioid assisted treatment rehabilitation. It will also further inform on the physical health and fitness of patients with substance use disorder (SUD), and their preferences regarding exercise interventions. Additionally, we will investigate the effect of performing an acute bout of exercise on psychological outcomes including mood as secondary outcomes in aid of identifying further motivators for participant engagement. We hypothesise that the 12-week exercise program will significantly improve QOL and exercise capacity and that a single bout of exercise will lead to an improvement mood state. Regarding exercise participation, we hypothesis that participation at baseline will be lower than the general population, and that there will be a preference towards resistance type exercises over aerobic or flexibility. We also hypothesis that exercise capacity of participants will be below age and sex matched norms. With this information we hope to better inform the role of exercise as a treatment modality in the treatment of opioid dependence. We also hope to offer a summary of the exercise capacity and interests of this population to better inform clinical practice and exercise prescription.

Given the important role of meniscal repair in the restoration of normal knee mechanics and loading characteristics, the high prevalence of symptomatic meniscal tears, and the relative lack of published research in patients embarking on isolated meniscal repair, this study aims to ascertain the postoperative clinical and radiological outcome of patients undergoing varied surgical meniscal repair techniques (dictated by the nature, type and severity of the meniscal tear) for symptomatic and painful meniscal tears.

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors that affects a large proportion of Australia’s adult population. Fortunately, risk factors such as overweight/obesity, glucose intolerance, higher blood pressure and lipids can be treated with improved diet and lifestyle change. For example, diets such as reduced carbohydrate or Mediterranean style diets have shown positive results in improving these risk factors. We will be testing the effect of different diets on the risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome. The main aim of this study is to test different popular diets for 12 weeks to see which dietary approach works best for individuals with Metabolic Syndrome. Hypothesis - Lower Carbohydrate Mediterranean Diet will better improve Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular disease risk factors

This current evaluation built on existing international evidence to examine how an eight-week school-based Journey of Hope program may contribute towards the emotional and interpersonal wellbeing of students in primary and secondary schools impacted by the Black Summer bushfires, and subsequently by the COVID-19 pandemic and flood events. Data collection was conducted between October 2020 and April 2021 in New South Wales, Australia and aimed to answer the following questions: • What was the impact of Journey of Hope? • Were there any unintended outcomes of the program? • What factors had an important influence on program outcomes? • How suitable are the current Journey of Hope tools for measuring program outcomes? • How could the program be improved for use in future emergency contexts in Australia? Save the Children commissioned the University of Melbourne to provide advice and guidance on this evaluation. Save the Children was responsible for some evaluation activities including recruitment and data collection. Save the Children also conducted focus group discussions and interviews and analysed the qualitative data. The University of Melbourne advised which data collection tools to use, provided guidance on study design and research processes and analysed the quantitative data.

This study aims to assess the effect of Tislelizumab (an immunological treatment) in combination with CHOP or mini-CHOP (chemotherapy regimes) for the treatment of elderly patients with early- or advanced-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 61 years or older and have a diagnosis of stage IIA to IVB Hodgkin Lymphoma. Study details Participants who choose to participate in this clinical trial will receive 3 cycles (each cycle is 3 weeks) of intravenous Tislelizumab given on day 1 of the cycle. Four-5 weeks later, treatment with Tislelizumab will continue for another 4-6 cycles (each cycle is 21 days) in combination with CHOP or mini-CHOP, which is a lower-dose version of CHOP that may be given to patients over the age of 80 or who would not tolerate the full dose CHOP. This will be followed by a further four 3-week cycles of Tislelizumab, or may be followed by radiotherapy at the discretion of the investigator. For participants who achieve a complete response, the total duration of therapy will be for 21 weeks for those with early-stage disease or 27 weeks for those with advanced stage disease. All participants will be followed-up for a minimum of 2 years after the end of treatment, which will continue until the last patient has completed their 2-year follow-up. PET-CT scans will be used to monitor the response to treatment throughout, and any side effects of treatment will be monitored through regular physical examinations, blood tests, and a questionnaire. It is hoped this research will determine whether Tislelizumab in combination with CHOP or mini-CHOP is effective and safe at treating Hodgkin Lymphoma in older patients, with tolerable toxicity.

The experimental program, a technical adaptation of an interactive program based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy principles, delivered via a social humanoid robot (NAO robot), is a novel approach to providing mental health support to and improving anxiety symptoms in children. The social robot delivers information about anxiety and introduces different anxiety management strategies to increase children’s knowledge of anxiety and coping strategies. This project is in the early stages but if effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety in children, the social robot may represent a novel and engaging treatment option for children. The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of using a social humanoid robot for children with anxiety. It is expected that the social robot will be an engaging mode of delivery for anxiety treatment and management information for children with anxiety. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate whether the digital modality (online and robot) can help reduce anxiety symptoms in children with ‘elevated’ anxiety. It is expected that children with elevated anxiety who complete the program may show some decreases in anxiety symptoms, including in life interference and impairment experienced due to anxiety symptoms, such as sleep habits and difficulties, depression symptoms, and executive functioning.