Closing The Gap: Implementing Effective Treatments To Improve Post-operative Nausea And Vomiting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,303.00
Summary
Nausea and vomiting are common after surgery, concern 80% people undergoing surgery, and are managed by drugs with unwanted side effects. High quality evidence supports acupuncture being a safe and effective non-drug therapy for this complaint. This study will examine if and how acupuncture can be delivered by doctors and nurses around operation time. In future, people may have the choice of using acupuncture or drugs, or both, for preventing or treating nausea and vomiting after surgery.
The Communication Of Acute Postoperative Pain (CAPP):the Clinically Significant Meanings Behind Numerical Pain Ratings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$93,742.00
Summary
Between 45% – 80% of patients still have moderate to severe pain after surgery and receive less than 50% of the pain medications available. Using a 0 – 10 pain rating can contribute to this problem because there is no consistent understanding about what the numbers mean or how they should guide pain management decisions. The project aim is to develop a standard approach to using a numerical pain rating to assist patients to report the severity of their pain in ways that assists clinicians to dec ....Between 45% – 80% of patients still have moderate to severe pain after surgery and receive less than 50% of the pain medications available. Using a 0 – 10 pain rating can contribute to this problem because there is no consistent understanding about what the numbers mean or how they should guide pain management decisions. The project aim is to develop a standard approach to using a numerical pain rating to assist patients to report the severity of their pain in ways that assists clinicians to decide the best pain management.Read moreRead less
Alternative Insufflation Gases For Laparoscopic Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
It is now recognised that laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for cancer can be associated with the spread of tumour to surgical wounds, i.e. port sites. However, whether this is more likely following laparoscopy than conventional open surgery is controversial. Isolated case reports and the recent results of experimental studies suggest that the problem is important. Previous studies suggest that carbon dioxide gas used to inflate the abdomen during laparoscopy may be the specific cause of this probl ....It is now recognised that laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery for cancer can be associated with the spread of tumour to surgical wounds, i.e. port sites. However, whether this is more likely following laparoscopy than conventional open surgery is controversial. Isolated case reports and the recent results of experimental studies suggest that the problem is important. Previous studies suggest that carbon dioxide gas used to inflate the abdomen during laparoscopy may be the specific cause of this problem. A four to fivefold increase in the rate of cancer spread has been shown in previous experiments, and this can be reduced by using an inert gas such as helium. We propose to further investigate this issue using a combination of small and large animal models, and will also commence clinical trials of helium during clinical surgery. These studies aim will determine the gas of choice during laparoscopic surgery. They will also clarify advantages demonstrated for the use of helium in previous animal studies, and better investigate the safety of helium use. If our preliminary findings are supported by these studies, helium (or other inert gases) should be considered for routine use during clinical laparoscopy.Read moreRead less
Are Healthcare Interventions Exacerbating Alzheimer's Disease (AHEAD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,803.00
Summary
The AHEAD Study will assess the impact of anaesthesia and surgery on cognitive function in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild Alzheimer's Disease. Such effects have not been established. With an ageing population being increasingly exposed to healthcare procedures requiring anaesthesia or sedation, any negative impact needs to be identified so that therapeutic decisions may be informed and future research appropriately targeted.
POST-OPERATIVE CROHNS DISEASE RECURRENCE: EVALUATION OF AETIOLOGIC FACTORS And AN ALGORITHM And TRIAL TO MODIFY RECURRENCE.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,472.00
Summary
Eighty percent of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) need an operation at some stage. The disease invariably returns, and in 70% of patients further surgery is required. This project aims to determine whether particular bacteria cause the disease to recur and will look at the value of antibiotic treatment to prevent severe disease recurring. It will also assess whether adjusting treatment based on changes seen at the operative site during follow-up influences disease recurrence .
Nurses' Pain Management Decisions In The Post Surgery Context: A Naturalistic Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$56,368.00
Summary
In the hospital environment, doctors often prescribe medications for pain using an as required format on the drug order chart. Very often, this form of prescription occurs in the surgical wards of a hospital, where a patient may need a lot of pain relieving medication in the early period following the operation, and very little medication a few days following the operation. In the as required form of prescribing, the nurse caring for the patient has enormous flexibility in determining when and h ....In the hospital environment, doctors often prescribe medications for pain using an as required format on the drug order chart. Very often, this form of prescription occurs in the surgical wards of a hospital, where a patient may need a lot of pain relieving medication in the early period following the operation, and very little medication a few days following the operation. In the as required form of prescribing, the nurse caring for the patient has enormous flexibility in determining when and how much medication should be administered. Previous work has consistently shown that nurses do not administer adequate medication, which often results in poor pain control. Several nurse-related reasons have been proposed for poor pain management, including the fear of addiction, the fear of producing difficulties in breathing, and inadequate education about the medications administered. The focus of previous work has relied on examining small areas in isolation. Primarily, researchers have examined information on the drug order charts following patient discharge from hospital. They have also relied on analysing nurses' views on pain management relating to hypothetical patient situations. Overall, the research fails to address the multiple and interconnected factors faced by the nurse which could impact on pain management. Sources of these factors may be the patient, nurse, medication or environment. Examples of these factors include the presence or absence of the doctor, nurses' communication with doctors and other nurses about patient care, layout of the hospital ward, ward management structure, and methods used by the nurse to assess patient pain. By identifying the complex factors that impinge on decisions for managing pain, this study will provide opportunities to address the barriers that prevent adequate pain management. Nurses will then be in a position to change their practice in order to improve the management of patients' pain.Read moreRead less