ANZCTR search results

Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis is a common procedure. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) are commonly used to guide surgical decision making in the management of aortic stenosis. The maximum aortic valve jet velocity, mean gradient and aortic valve area and aortic acceleration time are normally used to grade the severity of aortic stenosis. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of AAT and the ratio of AAT/ET as a reliable marker of the severity of aortic stenosis using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and to compare these findings to those obtained using preoperative transthoracic echocardiography in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Recent literature has suggested that laparoscopy with higher intra-abdominal pressures may increase post-operative pain, theorised to be because of increased tension of the peritoneum, the highly sensitive inner lining of the abdominal wall. This studyis a randomised controlled study and aims to answer the question whether it is beneficial to perform laparoscopy at low intra-abdominal pressure (8mmHg) compared to normal pressure (12mmHg) in a laparoscopic cholecystectomy operation (keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder). Our hypothesis is that laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely at lower intra-abdominal pressures, and that this leads to lower post-operative pain.

This is a study to assess the effect of 12 months of blood or plasma donation on serum PFAS levels in a cohort of Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) firefighters. The purpose of the study is to determine if regular blood donation (i.e. whole blood, or plasma donation) will be effective in reducing serum PFAS levels. Participants will be randomly allocated into one of the following three groups: a whole blood donation, a plasma donation or an observation only for a 12-month period. Group 1: Blood donation every 12 weeks Group 2: Plasma donation every 6 weeks Group 3: Observation alone The study will run for a total of 18 months (approximately 3 months screening and randomisation, 12 months intervention and 3 months follow up).

Despite elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes among those with serious mental illness, and widespread recognition that interventions designed to promote increased physical activity are required, there are barriers at the patient, healthcare provider, and organisational levels to implementing typically recommended physical activity programs in a secure psychiatric inpatient setting. This project aims to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a novel intervention (exergaming) to promote physical activity among patients of secure mental health units. Research Questions: 1. Is a physical activity program based on exergaming able to be conducted within the setting of a secure mental health unit? 2. Do patients and staff consider exergaming to be an acceptable intervention for promoting physical activity among patients of such units? 3. Is the proposed intervention associated with improved physical and mental health outcomes for patients? Study Objectives: 1. To determine whether the FIT-HEART program is a feasible intervention for improving physical activity levels among patients in a secure mental health unit, as measured by retention in the program, and client and staff acceptability ratings. 2. To assess whether participants who receive the FIT-HEART program demonstrate greater improvements in physical activity levels, and clinical physical health measures (anthropometry; blood parameters; blood pressure), compared to those who only receive routine treatment. Expected Outcomes: This project will be the first, in Australia and internationally, to determine the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of exergaming to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes in a secure psychiatric inpatient setting. As such, this research will build upon the current evidence base and generate new evidence to inform policy and clinical practice. If feasibility, acceptability and positive patient outcomes are demonstrated, with minimal impact on resources and patient safety, the intervention has the potential to be: 1. embedded into routine clinical practice; 2. made sustainable; and, 3. scalable across the NSW Health system and, potentially, health systems in other national and international jurisdictions.

This project evaluates an intervention designed to educate health professionals on how to use a new falls screening tool in hospitals. The eventual plan is to replace a historical Falls Risk Assessment Form (FRAT) (Form A) with a new, evidence-based screening form (Form B). This project will educate health professionals in the use of the new screening form, and will evaluate their views of its feasibility. This study also examines the views and experiences of health professionals on hospital falls risk screening and FRATs more generally.

The goal of this project is to conduct a randomised pilot trial to compare the feasibility, safety and outcomes of a community-based therapeutic dancing program (ParkinDance) in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). It is hypothesised that people with PD participating in dancing classes twice per week for 12 consecutive weeks will have better outcomes compared to those participating once per week for 12 consecutive weeks. This research will provide objective evidence on whether people with PD need to do dancing classes once or twice per week to get significant improvements in movement, well-being and social participation. Although movement disorders, weakness and falls are common, physical activity levels are low and motivation to exercise is reduced. ParkinDance program gives people another choice about modes of exercise and also uses carefully designed dance exercises as a therapeutic method of physical activity. This project is conducted in partnership with Parkinson’s Victoria.

The purpose of this study is to examine the lifestyle behavioural associations with mental health conditions, in particular anxiety, in the Australian population. We hypothesise that significant differences will be observed between individuals with anxiety, compared to depressed individuals and the general population.

This is a single-centre observational study that aims to measure the gas flow delivered by bubble CPAP to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care. The project will aim to recruit 50 stable infants currently receiving bubble CPAP in the Royal Women’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The data collection process involves: recording of the gas flow and pressure of the bubble CPAP apparatus at baseline; decreasing the gas flow until bubbling ceases whilst maintaining the CPAP pressure to record the gas flow being delivered to the infant; recording the gas flow with the infant’s mouth closed; after which the gas flow will be returned to its initial setting. This information will provide insight into the mechanism of action of bubble CPAP compared to other non-invasive respiratory supports such as Nasal High-flow Therapy (nHFT). We hypothesise that the gas flow produced in bubble CPAP is similar to that used in nHFT.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age affecting between 12-30% of women, suggesting it may currently affect at least 1 million Australian women. We have shown that 1 in 2 women will get BV back again after recommended treatment. BV-associated bacteria are present in male partners of women with BV on the male genitals. We believe that these bacteria may be exchanged during sex and that this may be contributing to the high rates of women getting their BV back again. Currently only women are treated for BV and their male partners are not. Our research study “StepUp RCT” aims to determine whether the combined antibiotic treatment of male partners of women receiving therapy for BV significantly reduces the risk of BV recurrence compared to no male treatment, in the 12 weeks after randomisation. We aim to recruit 342 couples in Melbourne and Sydney and we are using a randomised study design: half of men will receive antibiotic treatment (dual couple treatment) and the other half will not (female treatment only). We will collect genital specimens from all participants before and after treatment and then at weeks 4,8 and 12 to see if the female gets her BV back again or not.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a blinded, randomised controlled trial of Club Connect: a group-based cognitive training program comprised of psychoeducation on topics related to healthy brain ageing and computer-based ‘brain training’. Participants will comprise a hospital sample of older adults with clinically significant depressive symptoms or history of a major depressive episode within the last five years, and without dementia.