ANZCTR search results

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a “train the trainer” model of CPR training within the community of patients attending cardiac rehabilitation classes. This study will aim to 1). explore the experience of participants in a peer-led CPR training program; and 2). evaluate the feasibility of peer-led CPR training provided by cardiac rehabilitation patients as peer trainers.

Many asthma patients experience suboptimal disease control and are disproportionally impacted by worsening environmental risk factors due to climate change. General practitioners (GPs) are well-placed and trusted to lead conversations to improve asthma management. The resulting treatment improvements have the potential to simultaneously reduce the significant greenhouse gas emissions from inhalers as a co-benefit. This study aims to explore whether adding environmental impact information for respiratory inhalers can influence clinician prescribing while improving quality of care and investigates optimal ways to communicate environmental impacts to GPs. We will conduct a factorial (2×2 pus control) randomised online hypothetical experiment with Australian GPs. Following consent and baseline information on guideline-concordant maintenance-and-reliever-therapy (“MART”) prescribing, participants will be randomised 1:1:1:1:1 to five conditions: A. Emissions impact: collective action / with graphic; B. Emissions impact: single-action / with graphic; C. Emissions impact: collective action / no graphic; D. Emission impact: single-action / no graphic; E. Control: no further information. The required sample size is 250 GPs. The primary outcome is participant choice of inhaler type (dry powder or pressurised metered dose). Secondary outcomes include participant level of confidence in their choice, management choice anxiety, acceptability and trustworthiness of information received and reasons for inhaler choice. This study will provide evidence on whether and how environmental impact information can influence prescribing intentions among GPs. Findings will inform future interventions aimed at aligning clinical and environmental goals in respiratory care. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and a lay summary of the findings will be published on the Wiser Healthcare Research Collaboration and Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network publications pages.

This project aims to conduct a controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of MindWise Leadership, an evidence-based mental health training program for people-leaders in the ambulance service. This trial will be used to measure whether this training program will improve managers' and leaders' responsive behaviours, preventative behaviours, confidence, knowledge and stigma regarding employee mental health. It also aims to investigate whether any changes are sustained over a 12-month period. The embedded randomised controlled trial will investigate the effectiveness of providing a short, 10/15 minute online top-up training module at 6-months post-intervention for 50% of the intervention group. The research questions that this research seeks to address are: 1. Does this manager training program improve leaders’ responsive and preventative behaviours regarding mental health in the workplace? 2. Does this manager training program improve leaders’ confidence addressing mental health matter in the workplace? 3. Does this manager training program reduce mental health stigma among leaders in the ambulance service? 4. Does this manager training program improve workplace mental health knowledge among leaders? 5. Does a top-up training module provided to 50% of intervention participants at 6-months post-intervention help to sustain any changes to behaviour, confidence, knowledge and stigma at 12-months post-intervention.

Background: Transition to breathing at birth is dependent on sufficient entry of air into the lungs and is the cornerstone of neonatal resuscitation. For the 5-10% of babies that require assistance at birth, the equipment used includes a self-inflating bag or pressure limited flow regulator. Good mask technique is essential to reduce leak and provide effective ventilation. In preterm resuscitation, the rate of respiration and tidal volume delivered are also key in reducing air leak and protecting against volutrauma to the preterm lung. Newborn resuscitation training performed on preterm mannequins relies on the visual feedback from instructors on chest rise and fall. The JUNO respiratory function monitor is an in-line device that serves as a training aid. It provides real-time feedback on percentage of leak, respiratory rate and tidal volume delivered with each breath administered. There is emerging evidence of its utility in the training of neonatal resuscitation within the neonatal community. This study aims to assess its effectiveness in reducing facemask leak within the non-specialist community. Objectives: The aim of this project is to assess whether the Juno Training Monitor is superior to current training methods at reducing mask leak during neonatal resuscitation within the non-neonatal specialist community. Project Plan: Candidates attending a neonatal stabilisation course will be randomised to either facemask ventilation training with real-time feedback from the JUNO training monitor, or to standard training. A 30-second simulation post-training with the monitor blinded will then be performed. The primary outcome will be the amount of time spent with a mask lead <30%. Secondary outcomes will include the rate of respiration and tidal volume administered.

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates whether self-paced e-learning modules, delivered via Canvas Catalog, improve the decision-making abilities of healthcare professionals in the management of Type 2 Diabetes using smart technologies. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group, which will complete interactive modules and a virtual simulation exam, or a control group, which will receive standard online diabetes education over a three-week period. The primary outcome is to assess the Impact of an educational e-Learning module for T2D smart technology on diabetes care. Secondary outcomes include self-reported enablers and barriers, levels of confidence, and engagement.

* Endometriosis is a prevalent chronic disease affecting up to 14% of presumed females at birth between 18 to 45 years old in Australia. Characterised by endometrial-like tissue proliferating outside the uterine cavity, it leads to chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, infertility, reduced quality of life, and significant economic burden to both individuals and the healthcare system. Current treatment options, including hormonal therapies and surgery, are often ineffective, poorly tolerated, or unsuitable for long-term use, underscoring the urgent need for novel interventions. The MMEND trial evaluates the efficacy of Garlic extract (GE) and L-arginine, both of which possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, in reducing endometriosis-related pain and improving quality of life. This randomised, 48-week, two-arm, double-blind phase II clinical trial will recruit 150 participants aged 18 to 45 with a confirmed medical diagnosis of endometriosis. The primary outcome is a reduction in endometriosis-associated pain and improvement in quality of life. Secondary outcomes include the modulation of blood biomarkers of inflammation and angiogenesis.

Pulmonary aspiration (regurgitation of gastric contents into the lungs) is a feared complication of anaesthesia that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pre-operative fasting mitigates this risk by ensuring an empty stomach before surgery and is fundamental to safe anaesthetic practice. Traditional fasting protocols require 2 hours between last oral fluid intake and surgery, but due to unpredictable theatre scheduling many patients fast much for much longer. Since 2023, there has been widespread adoption of a novel fasting program: “Sip Til Send” (STS), that allows patients to drink a controlled volume of fluids until they are transported to theatre. The initiative has been adopted in more than 40 hospitals across Australasia, but the safety of this approach is based on limited evidence from under-powered studies. Our project will be a multicentre, observational study of around 250,000 anaesthetics performed across Australia and New Zealand comparing rates of pulmonary aspiration in patients managed with a Sip Til Send protocol compared with traditional fasting.

This study is testing a new online program, MoreGoodDays, designed to help people manage persistent low back pain. The program runs for 8 weeks and includes short weekly modules with videos, readings, guided movements, and activities such as goal setting and mindfulness, which participants can complete at home in their own time. Participants will also virtual one-on-one sessions with a physiotherapist and psychologist who specialise in persistent pain, to personalise and support what is learned in the program. We will measure changes in pain, function, and wellbeing through questionnaires before, after, and up to 12 months following the program. The results will help us understand whether this type of digital program can improve access to effective care for people living with long-term back pain.

Our research team evaluates fetoplacental perfusion using ultrasound and a validated ultrasound imaging tool called Three-Dimensional Fractional Moving Blood Volume (3D-FMBV). Previous experimental work from our group has shown an excellent correlation between 3D-FMBV and accepted ‘gold-standard’ measurements of blood flow. Funding from the Wellcome Leap In Utero (WLIU) project (https://wellcomeleap.org/inutero/) has allowed us to determine normal ranges for fetal organ perfusion (brain, liver and kidney) and placental perfusion. The WLIU project funded production in 2023-2024 of a purpose-designed low-cost ultrasound system though an independent design and engineering consultancy (IDE Group). This was constructed based upon original equipment manufacturer components under full ISO13485 and IEC 62304 regulatory compliance. We will be undertaking an equivalence study in early 2025 to show that our ultrasound machine measures perfusion in a comparable manner to the previously used GE machine. The goal of the Wellcome Leap In Utero research is to develop a low-cost tool for late pregnancy evaluation to determine the fetus ‘at risk’, that can be used in low resource environments. We wish to undertake a study to look at feasibility and acceptability of our ultrasound device and its predictive ability for stillbirth or hypoxic fetal compromise in a high-risk population. Discussions with participants in high-risk priority populations (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) located in three identified rural/remote centres have identified the urgent need for predictive markers for late pregnancy loss. Our team of clinicians and engineers will work with our collaborators in these priority populations to collect relevant markers (individual fetal organ perfusion or ratios) and validate these against our established normal ranges.

The purpose of this research is to test the effectiveness of using a computer simulation to personalise the force recommendations for jaw stretching and exercise program and compare this to the usual jaw stretching and exercise program. We will do this by using finite element analysis that uses information from CT scans to predict what is the best amount and place to apply pressure to stretch the mouth after undergoing jaw surgery. Once we have the recommendations we can deliver the pressure using a device called RestorabiteTM. RestorabiteTM is a class I medical device that has been approved in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) ARTG ID 407358. 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 a segmental mandibulectomy and reconstruction at COBL Study Details: This is a randomised controlled trial. Each participant is put into a group by chance (random). In this study, the groups are either control (Low force) or intervention (Personalised force recommendation). Intervention: 1.Maxium Incisal Opening (MIO) will be measured. 2. Standard of care virtual surgical planning (VSP) will be performed prior to surgery and undergo a segmental mandibulectomy and reconstructive surgery. 3. FEA using the VSP and standard of care post-operative CT scans will be conducted to optimise the postoperative exercise program by providing force and location targets (i.e., the ideal amount and location to apply force to the jaw). 4. A jaw-stretching device (RestorabiteTM) will be used to deliver the exercise program starting at 2 weeks after surgery. 5. The exercise program will continue for 10 weeks under the supervision of a speech pathologist. 6. After the 10 week exercise program, participants will be advised by their speech pathologist whether they will require a maintenance program. This will be recommended for any participant with a MIO<35mm. Participants will conduct their maintenance program independently and follow up appointments to monitor MIO, exercise adherence and adverse events. The control group will be patients undergoing the same procedure but excludes Step 3 (FEA to model personalised jaw exercise). This control group constitutes standard care at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for patients undergoing segmental mandibulectomy and reconstruction. For all participants from both groups, you will have an assessment of your mouth opening and quality of life questionnaire (10 minutes). This will be carried out before surgery, then at 2 and 12 weeks, 6, 12, 18, 24 months post-surgery. This research is testing if using the personalised force recommendations might improve your mouth opening over time after the operation compared to our usual low pressure. By personalising exercises, we hope to prevent or minimise the onset of restricted mouth opening (trismus) after jaw reconstruction surgery. Participation in this clinical trial is voluntary