ANZCTR search results

This study aims to investigate whether corticosteroids can help resolve non-malignant small bowel obstruction caused by adhesions without the need for surgery. Small bowel obstruction is a common condition after abdominal surgery and is usually managed with treatments such as a nasogastric tube and fasting. Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce bowel swelling. Their use have been effective and safe in the setting of malignant bowel obstruction, but yet to be shown in non-malignant obstructions. We hypothesize that adding corticosteroids to standard non-surgical management will increase the likelihood of resolving the obstruction without surgery and improve recovery time. The study will also assess any potential side effects of corticosteroids.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is currently an incurable disease of ageing. Self-management - including good mental health, exercise, a healthy diet, and smoking cessation - complements medical management. The RA-HEAL program is a six-month multidisciplinary, person-centred, blended-delivery program combining resilience, healthy lifestyle behaviours and change support for RA. The RA-HEAL trial builds on a successful pilot study to assess real-world effectiveness of RA-HEAL compared to best practice usual care in people newly diagnosed with RA. The primary outcome is health-related quality of life. Effects of the intervention, relative to standard care, on physical function, mental wellbeing, lifestyle behaviours and disease control will be evaluated at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up. Feasibility, safety, acceptability and value for money will also be evaluated. This research will provide evidence to support a nationally-scalable approach to enable RA self-management to ultimately reduce the individual and public health burden of RA associated with distress, poor physical function, long-term complications and healthcare costs.

The primary aim of this study is to preliminarily examine the efficacy of a videoconferencing adjunct to Lights Out Online, with respect to improving sleep, anxiety and behavioural outcomes for children, as well as parental self-efficacy, parent mental health and sleep. We expect there to be improvements in each of these areas for both children and parents and also expect parents to report a general level of satisfaction with the program.

Cataracts are easily treated with surgery, but there is a small risk of damaging the endothelial cells of the cornea which can lead to corneal swelling, affecting vision. Certain conditions such as traumatic cataract increase this risk. The Quatera 700 is an innovative machine used for cataract surgery, designed to cause less damage to the corneal endothelium. As such, we aim to document recovery of 10 complex surgery cataract surgery cases performed using this Quatera 700, in particular the change in cell count of the corneal endothelium. Patients who consent to the project will undergo routine care for their complex cataracts, but will attend additional appointments to measure the endothelial cell count (non-invasive imaging), which has minimal to no adverse effects.

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 teenagers aged 13 to 18 years, eating a diet low in fruit and vegetables and using light emitting diode (LED) screens for more than 4 hours will be randomly assigned to receive capsules containing either Lute-gen (Lutein 10 mg & Zeaxanthin-isomers 2mg) daily or a placebo for 6 months. Changes in macular pigment optical densitiy, visual memory, processing speed, attention, and sleep will be assessed over time by administering several researcher-administered assessments and participants completing validated self-report questionnaires.

We aim to determine whether the My Emotions intervention, delivered by provisional psychologists in their usual work setting, is feasible, acceptable, and effective. Therefore, in this waitlist controlled randomised controlled trial, we aim to determine whether a brief emotions intervention delivered by provisionally registered psychologists: 1. Is feasible and acceptable when delivered in real-life clinical settings (primary outcome) 2. Improves child and family functioning at 3-months post-randomisation follow-up (secondary outcome).

The Ready to Screen (R2S) trial will investigate the effect of a bundled implementation strategy on lung cancer screening recruitment strategies in primary care. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 50 and 70 years of age, have current or previous history of smoking and attend an eligible GP practice Study details GP practices in this study will be randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups: one group will receive and implement the Core Implementation Strategy while the other group will receive and implement the Bundled Implementation Strategy. The strategy that participants receive will depend on the GP practice they attend. Participants’ intention to participate in the upcoming National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP), uptake feasibility, adoption and implementation, cost effectiveness and maintenance of the implementation strategy will be assessed using questionnaires and data from patients, practice staff, GP and clinic practice systems. Understanding the factors that influence patients' intentions to participate in LCS programs will help inform and optimize the implementation of the upcoming National Lung Cancer Screening Program in Australia.

This single-arm feasibility trial evaluates the acceptability and practicality of an 8-week intervention combining a structured learn to swim program and (pain) educational sessions aimed at reducing LBP. Participants with LBP will engage in supervised swimming lessons, complemented by an educational content on pain management, physical activity benefits, and self-care strategies. The latter will comprise of two short videos. Primary objective(s) is to assess feasibility indicators, including recruitment and retention rates, adherence to learning to swim, and fidelity of the education sessions. Secondary objectives explore outcomes related to preliminary effects on pain intensity, disability, self-efficacy, fear behaviors and physical activity levels to inform the potential clinical benefits of the program. Hypothesis: This feasibility and small single-arm trial will show participant recruitment, retention and baseline data completion along with follow up rates to be within pre-determined levels. Further, participants will show trends towards greater self-efficacy (belief), and reduced pain and disability - associated with participation in an education and learn to swim program.

Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are catheters that are inserted into peripheral veins to give medical treatment such as medicines, fluids, and blood transfusions. PIVCs are the most frequently used vascular access device in Australia. This is largely due to the current workforce model in which most PIVC inserters are doctors and nurses (generalist) inserting PIVCs within their existing roles. There are, however, alternate intravenous (IV) devices available which a specialist in Vascular Access has the specialised knowledge and skills available to insert. Our research project aims to find out whether the standard practice of a PIVC device being inserted by your bedside nurse or doctor affects how long the IV device functions and patient satisfaction. Hypothesis 1: The hypothesis for the feasibility of this study is that we will be able to recruit the required number of patients and they will remain within the study for the duration of data collection. The study will adhere to the processes outlined in the study protocol, and data will be collected and complete. Hypothesis 2: The hypothesis for the clinical outcome of the study is that the Vascular Access Specialist will be more successful than usual care in peripheral intravenous catheter insertion with lower incidence of failure and complications and less pain to the patient.

The purpose of this research is to determine the effectiveness of laser treatment on the leg or arm that will be used to reconstruct your mouth after a removal of cancer before the surgery in reducing hair density in the mouth, and to assess overall satisfaction, including comfort and oral hygiene post-surgery. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years and older, have head and neck cancer and will undergo free flap reconstruction using hair-bearing donor site. Study Details: By participating in this study, you will be randomised to either the control group (no laser hair removal treatment) or the intervention group (laser hair removal treatment). Following your surgery, an assessment will be conducted while you are still in hospital to review your healing of donor site/free flap as a standard of care. Hair density measurements and a review of the free flap will also be conducted at your routine post operative review at 4 weeks and 12 weeks post-op. Functional and health-related quality of life [HRQOL] patient reported outcome data will be collected using the FACE-Q Head and Neck Module questionnaire at the first appointment and 12 weeks postop. It is hoped that findings from this study will help clinicians and researchers understand the utility of pre-operative laser treatment in improving quality of life for those undergoing head and neck reconstruction.