ANZCTR search results

The rising acuity and complexity of hospital care has increased the need for patient surveillance while also posing obstacles to this practice in general wards. Nursing assessment practices are narrow, focused on vital signs and concentrated at the pointy end of actual patient deterioration: a stage at which effective and preventative nursing intervention is not relevant and medical rescue is the model of care. This three year single blind, cluster-randomised controlled trial will be implemented across seven hospitals. It will test an enhanced model of nurse surveillance, supported by systems-level practice change, redirecting practice from rescue to prevention of patient deterioration in general wards. The project provides the first rigorous evaluation of strengthening nurse surveillance to improve patient and organisational outcomes, including studies of clinical and cost effectiveness.

The purpose of this trial is to assess the effect of lens design on contact lens dissatisfaction in symptomatic, pre-presbyopic, CL wearers with a binocular vision disorder and / or contact lens discomfort.

The project aims to characterise airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) by utilising a multimodal catheter during a sleep study normally used for OSA diagnosis. Traditionally diagnosis would not readily identify the reason for obstruction and current methods of simulating airway collapse are often not comparable to that of natural sleep. This study aims to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of airway collapse during natural sleep of OSA patients with a view to improved targeting of subsequent therapeutic interventions. It is considered that a simple method to establish the primary site and mechanism for upper airway collapse during naturally occurring sleep would improve the ability of clinicians to distinguish which patients would benefit from a variety of treatments available. By introducing a newly developed manometry catheter into sleep studies of 15 known OSA sufferers we expect to be able to determine the location of the site(s) of collapse, the degree of occlusion that occurs, the severity of reduced air flow, the anatomical features associated with and mechanism of collapse. The device has the ability to record pressure, temperature, contact force and visualisation of the point of collapse.

PURPOSE OF STUDY To establish the outcomes of patients with finger flexor tendon repairs managed with an early active motion program at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). The specific aims of the study are to: • Gather baseline information for patients with isolated finger flexor tendon repairs. • Establish inter-rater reliability in assessment methods used to enable more than one rater to be involved. • Collect outcome measures for patients managed with an early active motion program for a period of 3 months.

This research study aims to explore intra-individual variability in symptoms over time and intra-individual predictors of symptom severity. A series of n-of-1 observational studies with individuals with ME/CFS will be conducted. The study also aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of participating in n-of-1 observational studies from the perspective of individuals with ME/CFS. This will be achieved by conducting semi-structured interviews with participants at the end of the study and by examining participant adherence to study procedures (e.g. questionnaire completion rates).

This study aims to compare the visual performance of NaturalVue Multifocal contact lenses with prototype multifocal contact lenses. Participants will wear each lens type in both eyes for a minimum of 7 days. After this period, vision and subjective ratings with each lens type will be assessed.

Otitis Externa (swimmers ear) is inflammation of the ear canal and leads to significant pain. The current treatment involves ear drops which are difficult to insert and requiring regular insertion. This leads to decreased patient compliance and a notably increasing level of antimicrobial resistance. This project involves the initial assessment of a newly created thermoresponsive ear gel (a gel that is drops at room temperature and changes to a gel a body temperature) in individuals with otitis externa. We hypothesis the ear gel will gelate in the ear canal, treating otitis externa and causing minimal adverse events.

The current pilot study study aims to: 1) examine the effectiveness of an 8-session, 2-hour group, CBT and mindfulness intervention in reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life, 2) compare the efficacy of intervention delivery method (group versus self-instruction) and 3) produce a CBT and mindfulness treatment protocol that is evidence-based and cost-effective for both practitioners and clients. Women aged 18 years or over, who experience symptoms of endometriosis, will choose to participate in one of three groups: Group, Self-Instruction or Care as Usual (Open Label design).

Primary healthcare services targeting Indigenous Australians, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) have a unique role in providing accessible and appropriate health care. Yet there is wide variation in the extent to which such services provide the full range of treatments for unhealthy alcohol use (i.e. drinking above recommended limits or alcohol-use-disorders). This cluster randomised controlled trial examines the effectiveness of a model for whole-of-service support to increase uptake of evidence-based screening and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians in primary care settings. We hypothesize that a collaborative, service-level intervention can result in improved rates of recommended screening and provision of treatment for unhealthy alcohol use.

The aim of this study is to examine reasons for re-presentation to emergency departments or admissions to hospital in a cohort of individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF). The use of treatment for AF, including rate and rhythm controlling strategies, and blood thinning medications (anticoagulation) to reduce the risk of stroke will also be explored. Factors associated with emergency department re-presentations and/or hospital admissions will also be examined.