Research Portfolio

Drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in adult patients in the emergency department setting

Nausea and vomiting is a common and distressing presenting complaint in emergency departments. Nausea describes the unpleasant sensation of the imminent need to vomit, whereas vomiting refers to the forceful oral expulsion of gastric contents associated with contraction of the abdominal and chest wall musculature. The complications from nausea and vomiting can range from trivial to serious, such as dehydration and oesophageal rupture. High level evidence supports the use of antiemetics in the management of nausea and vomiting in many settings and populations, however there is little guidance or consensus in recommendations for the management of nausea and vomiting in…

Principal Investigator: Dr Jeremy Furyk
Amount Awarded: $24,959.00
Institution: The Townsville Hospital

A randomised controlled trial with parallel groups to determine if written instructions reduce contamination of clean-catch mid-stream urine samples.

Urinalysis is commonly performed with samples examined for various chemicals, bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, proteins, blood and cells. A well collected mid-stream urine sample obtained to confirm or exclude urinary tract infection before the commencement of antibiotic therapy enables rapid, correct and reliable identification and antibiotic sensitivities of any infecting bacteria. For ambulant patients the urine usually is provided through collection of a clean-catch mid-stream urine sample (MSU). Collection may be undertaken by the patient themselves or with the assistance of family, friend or health professional. To avoid contamination by cells and bacteria, samples should be collected after discarding the…

Principal Investigator: Dr Michael Sinnott
Amount Awarded: $26,701
Institution: Princess Alexandra Hospital

Single palmar injection versus double injection dorsal digital nerve block for finger injuries in the Emergency Department: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

Patients with finger injuries often require their finger to be numb to allow their injury to be assessed properly and treated. There are several methods available to numb the finger. Our study aims to compare two methods for numbing the patient’s finger to see which one of these methods is least painful for the patient. The first method is a single injection in the palm of the hand and the second method is two injections in the back of the hand or finger. The second method is the most commonly used method in our emergency department. Our hypothesis is that…

Principal Investigator: Dr Shane Martin
Amount Awarded: $8,712.00
Institution: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital

IVL-Gone: Assessment of the effect of skin glue on the function of a peripherally inserted intravenous line.

Intravenous lines are placed in the majority of patients admitted to hospital. Unfortunately they often fall out, become infected, cause irritation & pain or become blocked. Occasionally this can cause a life threatening illness. Blood can leak from the intravenous line onto the patient’s skin, clothing or bed linen. This causes patient distress. It can also be dangerous for hospital staff if they accidentally come into contact with the blood. The insertion of a replacement intravenous line is generally regarded as an unpleasant experience that would be nice to avoid. The IVL-GONE research team are researching the use of common…

Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Bugden
Amount Awarded: $50,000.00
Institution: Caboolture Hospital

Effect of IV Fluid Therapy in Patients with Uncomplicated Acute Alcoholic Intoxication presenting to the Emergency Department, a randomised trial.

In the emergency department of Gold Coast Hospital, from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009, 0.7% of total patient population (~1512 patients) were given either a primary or secondary diagnosis of alcohol intoxication or alcohol abuse. Non admitted patients with acute alcohol intoxication or alcohol abuse had an average emergency department length of stay of 8 hours. This prolonged length of stay in the department contributes to additional resource allocation and increased morbidity through emergency department overcrowding. Current experimental evidence suggests that intravenous (IV) fluids do not increase rate of ethanol clearance from the blood of mildly intoxicated patients.…

Principal Investigator: Dr Siegfried Perez
Amount Awarded: $40,000.00
Institution: Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service