Clinical Research Directory

Optimizing Gait Symmetry After Stroke Using Mechanical Constraints and Sensory Feedback

This single-session study aims to evaluate a novel gait training protocol that integrates mechanical constraints and sensory feedback to enhance paretic leg propulsion in individuals post-stroke. The study will include 15 individuals who have experienced a stroke and 15 healthy adults, each aged 20 years or older. Participants will walk on both tied-belt and split-belt treadmills under various training conditions, including backward-directed resistance (applied at the pelvis, ankle, or both) and real-time sensory feedback (visual, auditory, or combined). These interventions will be applied individually and in combination to identify the most effective environment for promoting symmetrical gait patterns. Each session will last approximately two hours. The equipment used is non-invasive, and the risk to participants is minimal.

British Columbia Prescriber Feedback Program - Antimicrobial Resistance

The goal of this study is to evaluate an educational intervention that aims to reduce the number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed by family physicians and nurse practitioners in British Columbia, Canada. The intervention materials include a confidential personalized prescribing "portrait" and an evidence-based educational summary (therapeutics letter), accompanied by an introduction letter. The main research questions are: 1. Will the intervention lead to a reduction in the overall number of antibiotics prescriptions started? 2. Will the intervention lead to a reduction in the proportion of antibiotics prescribed that are likely unnecessary, especially prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections, acute bronchitis, acute sinusitis? Researchers will conduct an intervention study with family physicians and nurse practitioners in British Columbia, Canada. Participant clinicians will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The Early Group will consist of 80% of the participants and will receive the intervention (prescribing portrait, evidence summary, and introduction letter) at the start of the study. The Delayed Group will consist of 20% of participants and will receive the intervention about nine months later. This study design allows most practitioners to receive the intervention early while still allowing time to compare the two groups to assess the impact. To estimate the impact of the intervention, researchers will use administrative health data to compare the prescribing of the Early Group with prescribing of the Delayed Group.

Applying Videos Feedback Learning to Improve Skills Performance of Physiotherapy Interns

This project uses self-practicing videos feedback to learn to improve the skill performance of physiotherapy interns. For traditional physiotherapy intern courses, teachers will conduct core courses and demonstrate teaching, but students are less familiar with the application of skills, even if adding practice course. The learning outcomes of the course are still not good in skill performance. By recording the self-practicing videos, the teacher uses observation and feedback to let the physiotherapy interns know whether the posture of the individual case, the fixed position of the limbs are appropriate, the resistance given and whether the verbal instruction is correct, and based on the evaluation outcomes to observe the students' learning status and clinical thinking ability can improve the skill performance and learning satisfaction.