ANZCTR search results

The purpose of this study is to evaluate newer methods of investigating cardiac structure (specifically cardiac MRI T1 mapping sequences) and function (using echocardiogram measurements) in participants undergoing radiation therapy for left sided breast cancer. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are an adult who has been diagnosed with left sided breast cancer requiring radiation therapy. Study details. All participants will complete two cardiac MRI scans and two echocardiograms. The first MRI scan and echocardiogram will be done prior to the commencement of radiation therapy and the second scan and echocardiogram will be done six months after the completion of radiation therapy. It is hoped that this research will determine whether these tests are effective in determining changes in the structure and function of the heart at an early, potentially reversible stage in women undergoing treatment for left sided breast cancer.

Wheezing is a common presentation in young children. The 2 most common conditions that can cause wheezing are asthma and viral- induced wheeze (caused by viruses). However, in pre-school children (less than 6 years old), the diagnosis of asthma can often be very controversial as majority of the patients who present with pre-school wheeze do not develop asthma. However, it is still highly recommended that these groups of children be provided with an asthma action plan for symptom management in the community. Currently at The Northern Hospital and other units, children who are diagnosed with a viral-induced wheeze are given an asthma action plan prior to going home. This has not only caused confusion amongst parents as to the diagnosis and management of their child’s wheezing, but causes a lot of difficulty on the part of the medical and nursing staff in explaining how their child does not have a diagnosis of asthma. In this project, we aim to determine if providing the parents with a PRE-SCHOOL WHEEZE ACTION PLAN is less confusing guide for parents in managing their child’s symptoms at home.

This study aims to compare a number of sun protection messages to improve skin cancer prevention behaviours Who is it for? People who are aged 18-40 years, have a smartphone with a camera, are on the Australian Medicare system, residing in Queensland, and have at least 2 skin cancer risk factors (light hair color, skin that rarely or never tans, skin that burns easily, many moles, family/personal history of skin cancer) are eligible to participate in this study. Sample will be recruited via the population-based Australian Medicare system. Study details Participants will be randomised to one of 4 groups. These 4 groups will cycle through the 4 different interventions in a random order. All participants will undertake the 4 interventions, only the order will vary. The interventions are as follows: A - Personalised sun protection messages B - Interactive sun protection messages C - Personalised and interactive early intensity sun protection messages D - Personalised and interactive late intensity messages At the beginning of the study as well as 6 months post-commencement, participants will complete an online survey (20-30minutes), and between the different interventions, participants will complete an online short (5 minutes) online survey This study will create a highly valuable database of evidence-based intervention messages that may help prevent sunburns and reduce the risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers.

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) has a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals. The number of people with this condition is growing and the physical, mental, and financial costs are continuing to increase. People with CNLBP are more likely to experience changes to the way muscles in the hip and lower back area function. Foot orthoses have been shown to reduce pain and improve function in people with CNLBP. Additionally, foot orthotic devices have also been shown to alter the timing and intensity of muscle contractions in hip and lower back areas. This may be significant in the treatment of CNLBP as this condition is associated with dysfunction of muscles in these areas. The primary outcome measures will be change in pain and function from baseline to 12 (primary time point), 26, and 52 weeks. Secondary outcome measures include: gluteus medius muscle activity and transversus abdominis muscle thickness from baseline to 12 weeks, and physical activity over 12, 26, and 52 weeks. Number of hours per day and week that the prefabricated orthoses are worn over 12 weeks, as well as, adverse events over 52 weeks will be self-reported by participants.

This study assessed the effect of providing Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) Therapy on the self-administered sedation requirements, via a propofol patient controlled sedation pump, of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery under regional anesthesia in at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. It was hypothesized that patients receiving IVR would self administer less sedation during joint replacement surgery compared to individuals not receiving IVR.

When people in residential aged care facilities become immobile a high support chair (HSC) is used to maintain health advantages related to upright posture and continued social participation rather than staying in bed. Unintended negative outcomes however are occurring due to poor posture related to current HSC design. These include difficulties swallowing, contractures, pressure areas and discomfort. As well current HSC are difficult to manoeuvre and have resulted in injuries to care staff. Aged Care Housing (ACH) Group have designed a new HSC with features designed to overcome these limitations. This research will investigate if the new HSC does improve physical and social outcomes for immobile people and prevent injuries in the staff who care for them.

Emergency service personnel, such as fire fighters, are at increased risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As such, many personnel are required to attend group debriefing sessions following exposure to traumatic events. However, there is evidence that debriefing may actually increase the risk of PTSD and also distort eyewitness memory. Accordingly, in order to address these issues, the pre-briefing program "FitMind" was developed. The current study aims to investigate the efficacy of FitMind in enhancing psychological resilience and help-seeking behaviour in a sample of Firefighters. The efficacy of the "FitMind" program, a pre-briefing, resilience building educational program for firefighters, will be examined. The study will employ a 2 (Treatment Condition) x 5 (Assessment Point) design. Participants will be firefighters recruited fro Fire & Rescue NSW. They will be randomly allocated to either (a) Control group- training as usual, or (b) FitMind pre-briefing, which involves watching three DVDs approximately 30 minutes in total length, featuring real firefighters talking about some of the common, yet challenging experiences most firefighters will face in their career. The DVDs are designed to enhance help-seeking behaviour in firefighters, by encouraging them to talk to and get support from their peers, family or health professionals. All participants will be assessed upon their psychological wellbeing and help-seeking opinions/behaviours at (a) pre-intervention, and (b) six months, (c) one year, (d) two year and (e) three year follow up. The study is partly funded by Fire & Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW). FRNSW will not receive details of individual participants' data but will be provided with a report at the end of the study with aggregate data. This information will assist FRNSW in determining policy around programs for promotion of staff mental health and wellbeing.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether a new screening method is effective in providing a clearer picture of lung cancer. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are about to undergo endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspirate (EBUS-TBNA) in order to assess the presence of lung cancer. Study details There are 2 samples which will be used from patients- one is samples from the EBUS TBNA test and the other is a blood test. The EBUS TBNA test will still have the goal of making the diagnosis your doctor is aiming to obtain. This sample will also be used for determining the best way this needle test should be done and how the maximum information about the genes in a cancer can be obtained form this test. Very importantly this new method should significantly improve the samples to make them ideal for very rapid analysis to obtain the information about the all-important genes. We have done studies to use lung samples to simultaneously test 48 genes with one machine. We want to take this further in 2 ways- one is to streamline the best way of actually drawing out the tiny amounts of material from the node. For example we will compare moving the needle within the nodes 3 versus 10 times. The other is to send the sample to a different machine which can sample the entire range of genes in the cancer- not just 48. We want to see if this is possible to do with the tiny amounts of sample we will send to the machine - only a drop or 2 of node sample. The blood test will be used to compare your normal genes with gens of any cancer in the sample. This blood test will be taken at the time your cannula is placed and will not hurt. It is hoped that this research will help determine whether this testing provides a better picture of lung cancer to patients and thus further helps doctors determine how best to treat it.

Our research project focuses on illusions known or thought to be experienced differently by people with schizophrenia (mental disorder characterised by delusions, hallucinations, paranoia and aberrant thought and language). These illusions include some auditory (Deutsch’s Phantoms Words), some tactile (Tactile Funnelling), and some that involve both, such as auditory and visual (the McGurk Effect), or visual and tactile (the Rubber and Projected Hand illusion). These illusions are of interest because they reveal how the nervous system works, and from the basis of how we experience the world around us. One way to understand these mechanisms is to administer to healthy volunteers a drug, nabilone, that may change these functions, and to measure these changes. We are also interested in whether or not caffeine may alter these illusions. We aim to determine if these drugs alter these illusions, similar to alterations in the illusions observed in those with certain psychiatric conditions, and similar to how another drug has been shown to alter them.

The primary aim of this feasibility study is to conduct a series of N-of-1 trials comparing the effectiveness of a) evidence-based advice, b) paracetamol and EBA, c) naproxen and EBA, and d) both paracetamol, naproxen and EBA to reduce daily neck pain and to prevent chronic pain at 3 and 6 months following whiplash injury in 'at-risk' individuals. The hypotheses are that, in people with acute whiplash injury: 1. Paracetamol, naproxen, and evidence-based advice will be more effective and safer than (i) paracetamol plus advice (ii) naproxen plus advice or (iii) advice alone in reducing neck pain intensity at 3 and 6 months following whiplash injury. 2. Paracetamol, naproxen, and evidence-based advice will be more effective and safer (i) paracetamol plus advice (ii) naproxen plus advice or (iii) advice alone in reducing disability, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms and pain catastrophizing at 3 and 6 months following whiplash injury.