Clinical Research Directory

Evaluation Of The Relationship Between The Conut Score And Balance And Functional Status In Patients With Chronic Stroke

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the CONUT score, which reflects nutritional status, and balance performance in patients with chronic stroke. The secondary aims are to investigate the association between the CONUT score and functional status and stroke-specific quality of life, as well as to assess the relationships of mid-upper arm circumference, an anthropometric indicator of nutritional status, and ultrasonographic rectus femoris muscle thickness, which reflects muscle mass, with balance performance, functional status, and stroke-specific quality of life. In addition, the study aims to examine the relationships between bone mineral density and balance, functional status, and ambulation level in patients with chronic stroke.

The Investigation of Kinesiophobia in Conservative Distal Radius Fractures

This study aimed to investigate the predictability of kinesiophobia on functional outcomes in conservatively treated patients with distal radius fractures. For this purpose, patients' level of kinesiophobia will be assessed using the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. To assess the functional status of patients, joint range of motion and upper extremity weight bearing measurements will be performed. Patients' functionality will be additionally assessed with the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation Questionnaire.

Visual Frailty in Ageing

The goal of this observational study is to define visual frailty and refine monitoring for an ageing population. It involves piloting a visual frailty assessment tool in a cohort of patients aged 60 and above with a known diagnosis of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (PAEP), Anne Rowling Clinic which is hosting the NHS Low Visual Aid Clinic, or any other NHS Lothian facility treating patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is visual frailty and how can it be assessed or predicted in the global ageing population using visual acuity, reading performance, functional status, mental health and systemic co-morbidities? * What is the relationship between visual acuity, reading performance, ocular diagnosis, co-morbidities, mental health, and functional status? Participants will have the following data collected from them from either Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Anne Rowling Clinic which is hosting the NHS Low Visual Aid Clinic, or any other NHS Lothian facility treating patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): * Visual acuity (both distance and near) * Reading performance * Functional status * Mental health * Co-morbidities Data will also be collected remotely (by phone call) from both the participants and their carers/relatives about their perceptions of visual frailty. Expert opinion will be sought from optometrists and ophthalmologists about the concept of visual frailty using an online survey.

Early Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Up to half of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) suffer from impaired quality of life, reduced physical capacity, and symptoms like shortness of breath even three months after diagnosis, despite standard treatment with anticoagulation (blood thinners). The randomized RehabPE trial investigates whether an early, structured rehabilitation program with physical training and patient education can prevent such long-term effects. The study includes hospitalized patients with acute symptomatic PE who are at increased risk of impaired quality of life three months after diagnosis. After informed consent, patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receives an early 6-8-week, center-based rehabilitation program; the other receives standard follow-up care without rehabilitation. The intervention group completes 16-18 outpatient sessions of endurance and strength training, along with two education sessions covering the condition, treatment, and symptom management. Over 180 days, changes in quality of life, physical exercise capacity, breathlessness, and psychological symptoms, and the time to return to work / usual daily activities will be monitored and compared between groups.

Protocol for Inpatient Nursing Frailty Assessment (INFA)

Background: Frailty confers greater risks of negative health outcomes in hospitalised older adults. To improve care for this vulnerable population, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is recommended for frail older persons. However, implementing CGA outside of specialised geriatrician-led settings is limited, and few care models use frailty to identify and target older persons for CGA in the hospital-wide context. The Inpatient Nursing Frailty Assessment (INFA) programme is a CGA-based care model that targets frail older adults acutely admitted to the hospital under non-geriatrician care. The INFA collects information from routine admission assessments by ward nurses, identifying CGA domains of functional decline, delirium, falls, sensory impairment, nutrition, oral health, and swallowing. The CGA allows earlier identification of health issues and development of a personalised care plan, which directs patients to resources that mitigate the risks of functional decline. Resources include nurse-initiated interventions, multidisciplinary team care, discharge planning, community care referrals, and specialist geriatric medicine reviews. Methods: The investigators aim to evaluate the INFA programme over two phases: pre-implementation and implementation. The updated CFIR including its Outcomes Addendum is the framework guiding both phases in the evaluation of effectiveness and implementation. The investigator's hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation study design is anchored in this framework. During pre-implementation, the investigators will evaluate the determinants of implementation success and subsequently refine implementation strategies. In the implementation phase, the investigators apply a quasi-experimental approach with intervention and control groups to examine the effects of the INFA intervention compared to usual care. Study participants are patients admitted to medical and surgical wards and are not receiving geriatric care. Individuals are aged 65 years and above and mild to moderately frail (CFS score 4-6). Implementation research in this phase aims to evaluate implementation outcomes. The primary outcome is activities of daily living at six months post-discharge. Secondary outcomes include length of stay, healthcare utilisation including readmissions and ED visits, quality-of-life, and cost-effectiveness. Discussion: The study's overall goal is to enhance the quality of care for frail older adults during their hospital stay, leading to improved functional outcomes.

The Research Aims to Study the Effectiveness of a Physical Exercise Program on Indicators of Quality of Life and Functionality: It Will be Applied at Home to People Undergoing Cardiac Surgery, in Phase II of Cardiac Rehabilitation

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of an physical exercise intervention in people after cardiac surgery, namely valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: • what is the influence of a physical exercise program on quality of life in people after cardiac surgery • what is the influence of a physical exercise program on functional status in people after cardiac surgery. Participants will be allocated to exepriemtal group and perform a physical exercise program during 12 weeks and the program is composed by aerobic and anaerobic exercise. They will be evaluated at the beginning, middle and in the end of the program. Researchers will compare the experimental and the control group to see the effects in quality of life and functional status.

Red Blood Cell Transfusion in ECMO - A Feasibility Trial

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an invasive and resource intense treatment used to support critically ill patients who have suffered severe cardiac arrest, cardiac failure or respiratory failure (including severe cases of COVID-19). ECMO acts as a mechanical circulatory support temporarily replacing the function of the heart or lungs by oxygenating blood and removing carbon dioxide, allowing time for these organs to recover. Many critically ill patients, including those on ECMO, have an increased risk of bleeding and reduced production/increased destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). This can lead to anaemia (haemoglobin levels \<120 g/l), a condition where the body lacks enough healthy RBCs to carry enough oxygen to the body's tissues. Therefore, patients on ECMO frequently require RBC transfusion, with clinicians having to decide if administering an RBC transfusion (with its associated risks) is higher than tolerating complications of anaemia. ROSETTA is a feasibility study that aims to determine the safety and feasibility of randomizing patients on ECMO to a restrictive RBC transfusion strategy (maintain Hb concentration above 70g/L) or to a more liberal transfusion strategy (maintain Hb concentration above 90g/L). Feasibility is defined as the ability to achieve a mean separation of at least 10g/L between the average lowest daily haemoglobin values in the two study groups.

Electrical Stimulation in Individuals With Chronic Neck Pain

The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of diadynamic current and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain and function in participants with chronic neck pain. The secondary objective of the research was to strengthen the neck muscles and enable participants with chronic neck pain to carry out everyday tasks on their own.

Glucose Variability and Cognition in Prediabetes

This study examines the association of variability in glucose values over a 10-day period with cognitive function and functional status among individuals with prediabetes, aged 50 or older.

The Effect of Psychosocial Skills Focused Group Psychoeducation in Schizophrenia Patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychosocial skills-oriented group psychoeducation on functional recovery, treatment adherence and mental well-being in patients with schizophrenia. This research will be conducted in Giresun Community Mental Health Center. The study was planned as a randomized controlled pretest-posttest design. In addition to the Sociodemographic Information Form prepared by the researchers, the Functional Recovery Scale in Schizophrenia, the Modified Morisky Treatment Adherence Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale will be used to collect the data. The sample size was calculated as 34 people (experimental group= 17, control group= 17). Forms and scales will be applied to the experimental and control groups before psychoeducation and scales will be applied again to both groups after psychoeducation.

Longitudinal Assessment of Pain-Related Patient-Reported Outcomes After Surgery

Little is known about pain-related outcomes experienced by patients in the first few weeks after surgery, once they are discharged from hospital. This study aims to characterize pain, pain-related interference, and early neuropathic pain in the sub-acute phase after surgery.