ANZCTR search results

This pilot randomised controlled trial will evaluate whether intraperitoneal administration of 4% Icodextrin (Adept®) at the completion of laparoscopic excision of advanced endometriosis can reduce postoperative ovarian adhesions. Forty women with intra-operative evidence of fixed or immobile ovaries will be randomised 1:1 to receive either Icodextrin or no adhesion-reduction solution. The primary outcome is ovarian mobility at 3 months, assessed by transvaginal ultrasound using a standardised sliding-sign protocol. Secondary outcomes include pain improvement (VAS), operative and recovery parameters, and safety events. Findings will inform the feasibility and design of a larger multicentre trial aimed at improving fertility and pain outcomes in endometriosis surgery.

Study purpose: This study aims to find out whether tumour signals in blood and saliva such as tumour-related DNA and cells, can give early information about how well treatment is working and whether the cancer is returning. Who is it for: People aged between 18 and 100 years who have recently been diagnosed with p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer and are about to start curative radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. Study details: Participants will give blood and saliva samples at several time points — before treatment, during treatment (around 4 weeks), and after treatment (at 13 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years). The samples will be tested for three types of “liquid biopsy” markers: • Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA found in saliva • Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) found in the blood • Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), small pieces of cancer DNA in the blood The study will track how these markers change over time and compare them with scan results and clinical outcomes. The goal is to find an easier, less invasive way to monitor patients and detect cancer returning earlier than with standard methods. Contribution to the field: It is hoped that the findings will support the development of minimally invasive tools for personalised disease monitoring and earlier detection of recurrence in oropharyngeal cancer.

The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of FUS on depression symptomology and associated EEG markers. Specifically, we will apply FUS to modulate activity of particular brain structures that are implicated in depression and emotional regulation. We aim to investigate the effects of FUS on depression symptoms using self-report questionnaires and computerised tasks that assess behaviours and cognitions associated with depression. We aim to investigate the effects of FUS on neural markers using EEG.

The PaCNOD Pilot study aims to test the feasibility of conducting a large-scale trial of CT scans in some people with recently diagnosed diabetes to determine if it leads to diagnosis of pancreatic cancer at an earlier stage. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 55 years or older with a recent diagnosis of diabetes, and no self-reported history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatic resection. Study details All participants will be asked to complete a survey about their health history. A subset of participants who are deemed to be at higher than average risk of pancreatic cancer will be invited to have a CT scan of their pancreas. Data will be collected on the feasibility of this investigative workflow, including the involvement of primary care doctors and private radiology providers. It is hoped that findings from this study will help researchers understand the utility of CT scans in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in this population.

Schizophrenia impacts 7 per 1000 people globally, and half have developed metabolic syndrome, representing significant cardiometabolic burden leading to excess early mortality. Moreover, schizophrenia commonly starts early in life (late adolescence and 20s), is chronic and requires long term pharmacotherapy which is often obesigenic. This means that individuals may begin to suffer from sleep apnoea much earlier than the general population and have a much longer life-time hypoxic burden. This 4-site 140 patient non-inferiority trial will inform health funders, clinicians, patients and their carers as to the 12-month clinical and cost benefits of funding simpler at home tests (i.e. 3 nights of at-home overnight oximetry instead of full in-laboratory polysomnography) for sleep apnoea in this special and severely undertreated population to speed access to treatment. Key clinical outcomes are Quality of Life (AQoL-8D - which also helps to inform the cost effectiveness), sleepiness, HbA1c, affect and cognition. Our highly skilled clinical and clinical trials research team will enable widespread and rapid translation of trial outcomes into clinical practice, creating a unique opportunity to gather evidence to generate significant health improvements for this high metabolic-risk population that is notably under-served. The main objective of this study is to evaluate whether 3-night home oximetry is clinically non-inferior (in terms of quality of life) and more cost effective, to the standard in-laboratory method.

Despite strong evidence demonstrating the ubiquity of mobile phones in hospitals, and their potential to act as fomites for pathogens and healthcare associated infections, there remains a paucity of evidence specifically reporting their use in the high-risk area of the intensive care unit. Furthermore, previous studies of mobile phone use in healthcare settings have been survey-based and have not specifically reported violations of infection control procedures. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the real-time mobile phone use and behaviours of patients, visitors, and healthcare workers in ICU. Additionally, the study investigated the impact of mobile phone use on the five moments of hand hygiene, with results expected to inform future studies of potential mobile phone sanitisation solutions.

Preterm infants, particularly those born before 31 weeks, are at risk of incurable blindness from a condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Regular screening eye examinations in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) monitor for ROP disease. Unfortunately, these eye examinations are painful and stressful, and research has shown that untreated stress in preterm infants leads to adverse neurodevelopment and even mental health problems. Currently there is no effective and safe way of reducing distress from eye examinations. In this study, we propose using a medication, dexmedetomidine for pain relief for the ROP eye checks. Dexmedetomidine is used increasingly for sick babies in NICUs, usually intravenously (which is painful and distressing in itself). We plan to give dexmedetomidine intranasally(via a special nasal spray device) as well as the usual standard comfort measures and compare pain scores and other physiological parameters such as oxygen levels, heart rates and breathing rates from this group of babies to those who will receive usual comfort strategies used during standard ROP eye examinations. We hypothesise that intranasal dexmedetomidine would reduce infant discomfort and improve infant physiological parameters including oxygenation.

Australian families of patients with severe neurological impairments (SNIs) lack mental health support despite high rates of depression, anxiety and stress. Parents and siblings report poor mental health, including anxiety and depression symptoms, and difficulties communicating with each other about the patient’s condition. This project will pilot an online intervention designed to improve sibling mental health and communication between siblings and parents called SIBS-ONLINE. SIBS-ONLINE was developed in Norway in 2023 and this will be the first study to test it with an Australian sample. The online program runs for six weeks – so siblings and parents will attend one session per week, six times.

The aim of the study is to prove that there is no greater risk of infection or inflammation to the patient when the patient, who has successfully completed the competency, self exchanges an antibiotic infuser compared with a nurse completing the same procedure. When this hypothesis has been proven then the local health district will be looking at amending procedure in community to accommodate community patients to avoid presenting to emergency departments or delay discharge from hospital due to antibiotic intravenous treatment.

The current project is a single-arm pilot trial which aims to evaluate user engagement, feasibility, and acceptability of a tailored digital CBM-I intervention for adolescents who have elevated symptoms of generalised anxiety, social anxiety, and/or panic disorder, above a clinical threshold. An improved CBM-I program has been developed in consultation with adolescents and mental health professionals to maximise engagement and relevance of content and features for adolescents with anxiety. Adolescents aged 14-17 years who are reported to experience anxiety symptoms above a clinical cut-off on a self-report diagnostic measure are eligible to participate. User engagement will be assessed by objective usage data (i.e., number of sessions completed, participant dropout, time spent using program) as well as a questionnaire and semi-structured exit interview immediately post-intervention or at time of dropout. Changes in anxiety (and, secondarily, depressive symptoms) and life interference, and interpretation bias will be assessed before and after the intervention period.