Trials
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Could enteral nutrition improve the outcome of patients with haematological malignancies undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation? A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (the NEPHA study).
Myeloablative allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a major procedure usually accompanied by multifactorial malnutrition, prompting the recommendation of systematic artificial nutritional support. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is usually administered during allo-HSCT, essentially for practical reasons. Recently published data suggest that enteral nutrition (EN), given as systematic artificial nutrition support, could decrease grade III-IV graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infectious events, which are associated with early toxicity after allo-HSCT and then have an impact on early transplant-related mortality (D100 mortality). ⋯ The impacts of nutritional support should exceed the limits of nutritional status improvement: EN may directly reduce immunological and infectious events, as well as decrease early transplant-related morbidity and mortality. EN and PN need to be prospectively compared in order to assess their impacts and to provide treatment guidelines. (Clinical trials gov number: NCT01955772; registration: July 19th, 2013).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The advance care planning PREPARE study among older Veterans with serious and chronic illness: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Advance care planning (ACP) is a process whereby patients prepare for medical decision-making. The traditional objective of ACP has focused on the completion of advance directives. We have developed a new paradigm of ACP focused on preparing patients and their loved ones for communication and informed medical decision-making. To operationalize this new paradigm of ACP, we created an interactive, patient-centered website called PREPARE ( www.prepareforyourcare.org ) designed for diverse older adults. ⋯ This study will determine whether PREPARE increases advance directive completion rates and engagement with the ACP process. If PREPARE is efficacious, it could prove to be an easy and effective intervention to help older adults engage in the ACP process within or outside of the medical environment. PREPARE may also help older adults communicate their medical wishes and goals to their loved ones and clinicians, improve medical decision-making, and ensure their wishes are honored over the life course.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prevention of delirium (POD) for older people in hospital: study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial.
Delirium is the most frequent complication among older people following hospitalisation. Delirium may be prevented in about one-third of patients using a multicomponent intervention. However, in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service has no routine delirium prevention care systems. We have developed the Prevention of Delirium Programme, a multicomponent delirium prevention intervention and implementation process. We have successfully carried out a pilot study to test the feasibility and acceptability of implementation of the programme. We are now undertaking preliminary testing of the programme. ⋯ This feasibility study will be used to gather data to inform the design of a future definitive randomised controlled trial.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of heating and cooling combination therapy on patients with chronic low back pain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Clinicians often apply heating or cooling stimulation for treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, scalding, frostbite and skin ulcers may occur from the excessive use of either therapy alone. Heating and cooling combination therapy may be a suitable alternative for treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, although insufficient research has documented the safety and efficacy of such therapy. The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine the efficacy and safety of heating and cooling combination therapy for treatment of chronic low back pain. ⋯ This research will determine the efficacy and safety of heating and cooling combination therapy on chronic low back pain. The results of this trial may have important implications for the more widespread use of heating and cooling combination therapy for treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A pilot feasibility, safety and biological efficacy multicentre trial of therapeutic hypercapnia after cardiac arrest: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Cardiac arrest causes ischaemic brain injury. Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) is a major determinant of cerebral blood flow. Thus, mild hypercapnia in the 24 h following cardiac arrest may increase cerebral blood flow and attenuate such injury. We describe the Carbon Control and Cardiac Arrest (CCC) trial. ⋯ The trial commenced in December 2012 and, when completed, will provide clinical evidence as to whether targeting mild hypercapnia for 24 h following intensive care unit admission for cardiac arrest patients is feasible and safe and whether it results in decreased concentrations of neurological injury biomarkers compared with normocapnia. Trial results will also be used to determine whether a phase IIb study powered for survival at 90 days is feasible and justified.