Clinical Research Directory

Chemo Brain Prehab Project

Colorectal cancer is 37% higher in the North West than the national average and is treated by chemotherapy, including fluorouracil, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin. A side effect of these drugs is loss of memory, forgetfulness, and general brain fog, which can persist for months after the end of treatment. These symptoms are collectively known as 'chemo-brain'. An existing prehabilitation intervention that has been previously developed will be used, which increases fitness and reduces hospital length of stay in colorectal cancer surgery patients, to try to improve the symptoms of chemo-brain in those undergoing chemotherapy and improve quality of life.

Evaluation of a Hospital Program to Prevent Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients

Postoperative delirium is a common complication in older adults undergoing surgery. It is characterized by an acute and fluctuating disturbance of attention, awareness, and thinking. Delirium may be associated with prolonged hospital stay, loss of independence, cognitive decline, complications, and increased need for care. The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf has introduced a multicomponent care program to prevent postoperative delirium in patients aged 65 years and older. The program includes preoperative assessment of risk factors such as frailty, cognitive impairment, and malnutrition, as well as information for patients and relatives. Depending on the individual risk profile, preventive measures may include support with orientation, adequate hydration and nutrition, early mobilization, preservation of the sleep-wake cycle, use of glasses and hearing aids, avoidance of unnecessary room changes, and reduction of medications that may contribute to delirium. A specialized delirium team supports patients and clinical staff during the hospital stay. EvaDel is a prospective study evaluating how patient care and clinical outcomes change while this delirium prevention program is gradually implemented in routine clinical practice. Participants will be followed from before surgery until three months after the operation. The study will assess the occurrence of postoperative delirium, cognitive function, independence in everyday activities, postoperative complications, and the extent to which the preventive measures were successfully implemented. The study hypothesis is that a higher degree of implementation of the delirium prevention program will be associated with a lower rate of postoperative delirium and with better cognitive, functional, and clinical outcomes after surgery.

Frailty, Dual-Task Performance, and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults

This study aims to examine the relationship between dual task performance, frailty level, and activities of daily living in older adults.

Gymnastics and Multicomponent Training Intervention in Community-dwelling Older Adults

Introduction: Extension projects focused on physical activity can offer health practices and promote quality of life for participants of different ages. Investing in extension projects with a research interface can contribute to relevant insights for teaching knowledge. Furthermore, the progressive aging of the population makes it essential to identify individuals at risk of functional decline and to implement evidence-based interventions that allow for the reduction of these losses, enabling a better quality of life for the elderly. The WHO developed the guideline that addresses healthy development, with strategies to promote healthy aging based on solid concepts, with data on their applicability in a real-life scenario, especially from intervention studies. Objective: To evaluate the impact of interventions focused on Gymnastics and multicomponent training on the intrinsic capacity of adult and elderly participants in extension projects at UFBA. Methodology: This is an intervention study within an extension project with a research focus, encompassing adult individuals (participants in MOVEGINBA) and elderly individuals of both sexes, aged 60 years or older (participants in the MOVEGINBA 60+ project). Participants will be evaluated regarding anthropometric, sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and physical-functional performance. As well as quality of life, sleep quality, fear of falling, and independence in activities of daily living. Tests and interviews will be conducted before and after the intervention. The results of this study will be fundamental to understanding the implications of the multicomponent gymnastics/training intervention for the participants. Keywords: Aging; Physical capacity; Gymnastics.

Comorbidity, Cognition, Gait Speed, and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Older Adults

This cross-sectional observational study aims to examine the associations of comorbidity burden and cognitive function with gait speed and respiratory muscle strength in community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. The relationships of physical activity level and functional mobility with these outcomes will also be investigated. Participants will complete interview-based questionnaires, cognitive assessments, and non-invasive measurements of gait speed, functional mobility, handgrip strength, and respiratory muscle strength during a single study visit. The Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire will also be administered to provide descriptive information about possible sarcopenia risk; however, no diagnosis or classification of sarcopenia will be performed. No treatment or experimental intervention will be administered.

Functional and Physiological Responses to Multicomponent Exercise in Older Adults

This study will examine functional and physiological responses to a 12-week multicomponent exercise program in community-dwelling older adults. Adults aged 60 to 81 years will be randomly assigned to either a multicomponent exercise group or a control group. The supervised exercise program will be performed twice weekly for 12 weeks and will include aerobic walking, resistance exercises, balance and agility training, flexibility exercises, and cool-down activities. Functional performance will be assessed using the six-minute walk test, the 30-second chair stand test, and the 8-Foot Up and Go test at baseline and after 12 weeks. Resting cardiac autonomic function will be assessed using heart rate variability. In addition, an exploratory responder-non-responder analysis will be conducted to examine whether baseline heart rate variability is associated with individual functional adaptations following the exercise program. This study may help identify physiological markers related to functional responsiveness to exercise in older adults.

Moving Yourself in Space and Time: MYSTIC

This study is being done to answer the question: Do people with Parkinson's benefit from a new stepping therapy, and how do people with Parkinson's best learn new steps and rhythms set to music? Researchers will also compare individuals with Parkinson's Disease with people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and with people with neither of these conditions. The purpose of this study is to identify principles of human-music interactions to establish underlying guiding theories for application to music-based rehabilitation for older populations with neurodegenerative disease, leading to more refined and targeted music-based rhythmic movement therapies.

An mHealth-based Healthcare Professional-Lay Health Worker Partnership Program (mHLPP)

The project aimed at training female food delivery workers from Food Angel to perform basic health checks for older adults living alone in the community. After undergoing training, the female delivery workers will be equipped with basic health knowledge and the ability to measure physical vital signs, including blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and pulse and pain indices, for around 100 older adults when they visit them to deliver meals. The health data collected by the delivery workers will be uploaded to the mHealth monitoring platform developed by Prof. Arkers Wong's research team. Registered nurses (RNs) will be given access to the platform to evaluate the health status of the older adults. When needed, an RN will give in-depth personal care and interventions via the mHealth app to the older adults. Referrals to allied health professionals or social workers can also be made by the RNs for early interventions. The team hope that this first-of-its-kind grassroots community health model, undertaken in combination with the Health-Social Partnership, will provide scientific research evidence for the Hong Kong government to consider introducing the mHealth app and the service model to the community as a way to strengthen primary healthcare. The mHealth app is a pilot health management mobile app with an interactive nurse support function. The app enables nurses to monitor the health status of users and allow users to communicate with nurses when they have health concerns. Research findings released by the team in March 2023 showed that older adults' use of the app for 3 to 6 months resulted in a significant increase in self-efficacy, a significant decrease in depression levels, a reduction in the use of medical services, and an improvement in quality of life.

WhatsApp Radio Taiso Exercise Program for Adults Aged 60+

The aim of this research is to examine the contribution of the Radio Taiso exercise program, offered via the WhatsApp application, to the process of establishing exercise habits in individuals aged 60 and over, and to evaluate the effects of this intervention on physical performance and quality of life. The study investigates the usability of WhatsApp, a digital platform, as a support tool in developing exercise habits. Furthermore, it aims to reveal the effects of the traditional Radio Taiso exercise model, widely practiced in Japan, one of the longest-living societies in the world, on the physical performance and quality of life of older adults.

Multiple Breathing Training on Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Older Adults

This study were to investigate the effects of multiple breathing training on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, chest expansion, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), aerobic capacity, and dyspnea symptoms in older adults.

Readiness to Change and the Implementation of Home Modifications for Adults Over 60

This study is focused on home modifications and the changes that older adults may experience while aging. We are conducting this study to better understand how people feel about making changes to their homes or utilizing equipment to assist with home tasks.