ANZCTR search results

This is a pilot feasibility randomized clinical trial comparing the novel intramuscular use of dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 agonist agent, in preventing delirium and improving sleep in older, non-ventilated intensive care patients, compared with usual care. The main aims are to determine if using the drug in this context is safe, and if further, larger studies would be feasible.

The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a machine learning (ML)-based physical activity digital assistant to promote physical activity in older adults 65 years of age or older. The study will use an existing ML-based digital assistant MoveMentor that applies natural language and reinforced learning in an engaging, interactive, and personalised intervention. This study will assess the feasibility (usability, acceptability, and engagement), preliminary effectiveness, and user experience. A feasibility study with non-randomised pre-post measures will be conducted over 14-weeks. At baseline (week 0) participants average step count will be tracked through an activity tracker, then complete a brief online survey to assess participant demographics, self-reported physical activity, and intentions to engage in physical activity. At the end of the intervention (week 13) participants will complete a further online survey to measure changes in self-reported physical activity, intentions to engage in physical activity, and user experience assessed through usability, acceptance and engagement with MoveMentor. The primary outcome is the change in steps recorded from baseline to post-intervention.

The study is a randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of breathwork on mental health outcomes in student paramedics. It involves two groups, with participants randomised to either the breathwork intervention or a control group, over a three-month period. The primary focus is to assess improvements in mental health metrics such as stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, resilience and overall well-being. We hypothesise that the breathwork group will experience positive improvements in mental health, resilience and well-being, compared to the control group.

This study is investigating whether ‘time of day’ factors and sleep patterns affect immune cells (cells that protect the eye) in the cornea (transparent front part of the eye). This study will also examine whether different light filtering lenses (that block different wavelengths of light) influence the behaviour of corneal immune cells. The study will aim to enrol 24 participants, with a target of 18 completed participants, aged 18 to 45 years, who have healthy eyes and do not regularly wear contact lenses or spectacles for daily activities. Participants will attend for 8 study visits in total, comprising 3 visits in the morning (08:00 AM-10:00 AM) and 5 visits in the late afternoon (16:00 PM-18:00 PM). Over the course of the study, participants will be asked to wear various forms of eye wear, consisting of an eyepatch and safety glasses with a filtered lens over one eye, overnight and/or throughout the day, as directed by the study team, as well as have some tear and blood samples collected.

The study will look at the acceptability and suitability of older adults participating in an online group exercise class aimed at reducing the risk of falls. It will explore barriers and faciliators to a virtual falls prevention program. Participants included in the study will be recruited from RPA Virtual Hospital who meet a specific eligibility criteria. They will partake in a 12-week virtual falls prevention service that includes assessment and delivery of exercise. We are hoping that older adults will find the 12 week virtual falls prevention service acceptable and suitable for their needs.

Existing treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are inadequate and ME/CFS therapy represents an unmet need of healthcare. Our aim is to assess the efficacy of trimetazidine, a metabolic agent, in treating ME/CFS in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress of ME/CFS and may be the potential final common pathway in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS. Trimetazidine increases metabolic efficiency in the mitochondria by promoting glucose oxidation rather than fatty acid oxidation (i.e. increased energy generation) and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Importantly, in preclinical rodent studies confirmed trimetazidine increases mitochondrial function in the brain and facilitates longer swimming in the forced swim test without causing hyperactivity in the large open field. Trimetazidine was also identified using an atheoretical drug screening approach that showed trimetazidine to redress mitochondrial dysfunction. The therapeutic potential of trimetazidine is clear, Trimetazidine is highly accessible, affordable, and has regulatory approval to treat angina in Asia and Europe, making it particularly suitable to repurpose for ME/CFS.

Indocyanine green has been used in laparoscopic cholecystectomies for several years now to improve the visualization of patients’ extrahepatic biliary anatomy. Various doses and timings of indocyanine green have been used to improve visualization while reducing liver hyper fluorescence, with no optimization of either. The purpose of this study is to find an optimal dose and time to administer indocyanine green in laparoscopic cholecystectomies which are currently mostly conducted as day cases at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The primary hypothesis is that a lower dose of ICG administered within an hour of surgery provides better visualization of the extrahepatic biliary anatomy compared to the commonly-used higher dose.

Medication errors are an important cause of harm in Emergency Departments (EDs). The resuscitation area of Emergency Departments are busy, high risk environments in which patients who are in a critical condition are treated. Pharmacists have demonstrated an ability to improve medication safety in EDs and improve medicine use. However, the resuscitation area does not usually have a dedicated pharmacist. The aim of this study is to determine if the presence of an ED pharmacist in the resuscitation area to assist with the treatment of very unwell patients has a benefit to these patients. The hypothesis for this study is that an emergency medicine Pharmacist in the ED resuscitation team setting will reduce medication errors, help doctors and nurses give critical medicines more quickly, improve documentation of medications on medication charts, and optimise patient outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into reducing the negative health effects associated with sarcopenia. As sarcopenia is a condition that affects many older adults, and we wish to explore the effects on people’s perceptions and behaviors of providing information about exercise and protein-based strategies for maintaining muscle health in this population. Skeletal muscle health is a critical component of overall health and wellbeing, particularly for older adults. Sarcopenia is a disease defined by the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass and function and can predisposes older adults to frailty, loss of independence, and premature death. Nutritional support is a key strategy in the prevention of sarcopenia, with nutritional interventions including a protein-rich diet and/or protein supplementation. However, implementation of straightforward nutrition educational practices based on current scientific information that are aimed at improving muscle for older adults is a severely overlooked aspect in current treatment and management strategies of sarcopenia. Therefore, this research project aims to improve knowledge, practice, and implementation of nutrition and exercise as interventional strategies in the treatment of sarcopenia in older adults.

Older adults living in aged care homes have the highest fracture risk, accounting for 30% of hip fractures in Australia. We increased provision of high-protein, high-calcium foods from 2 to 3.5 servings/day for 2 years in over 3300 aged-care residents and reduced fractures by 33%, hip fractures by 46% and falls by 11% compared to the 3800 residents that consumed from their regular menus. This was done by supporting food service staff to incorporate these foods into their menus. To upscale this program we have developed a Bone Health Nutrition Training Program via an on-line community of practice that aged-care food service staff can access. A community of practice enables staff within a given organisation or age care provider group to converse and share thoughts, recipes, and ideas amongst the group within a secure invitation-only platform. This is an important aspect of the training and on-going support of staff as they can securely converse within their network and share strategies and ideas within their own network as changes implemented within an organisation may have copyright or other restrictions attached to it. This project will assess the efficacy of this Training Program by measuring improved protein content of menus, and improved protein intake of residents. The project involves 16 aged care homes; half of which will be randomised to intervention (education program) with the remaining half to continue with food provision from their usual menus. Food service staff from the intervention aged care homes will undertake the Bone Health Nutrition Training Program. Food service staff at control sites will continue with their usual food provision. Menus will be assessed for nutritional quality before and after training completion. Food service staff will report on the barriers and enablers for implementing the menu changes via focus groups or interviews. A sample of at least 8 residents per aged care home will have their dietary intake recorded across two days by measuring plate waste, have their nutritional status determined using the mini nutrition assessment tool, and quality of life determined by questionnaire at baseline and after training completion and implementation of menu changes based on learnings from the Training Program (~ 2-3 months). The education will be conducted virtually. There is minimal disruption to residents’ activities with nutritional status and quality of life determined at a time that is convenient for them. Food service (e.g., timing of meal delivery) will remain unchanged. Research staff involved in data collection in aged care homes are all qualified and will be fully vaccinated and trained on infection control and processes and procedures for each aged care home.