WOMBAT Newsletter
    June 2009


Welcome to the June 2009 issue.

In this issue:

WOMBAT news

1. NHMRC Enabling Grants: Expression of Interest

Through the Clinical Trials section of the NHMRC Enabling Grants Scheme, the WOMBAT Collaboration was recently invited to submit an expression of interest. We submitted an EOI covering our progress to date and outlined elements and proposed structures and activities for the WOMBAT Collaboration post June 2010.

2. WOMBAT booklets available

Available in PDF format are the most recent versions of two WOMBAT produced booklets:

  • Australasian randomised trials in maternal and perinatal health: Studies currently recruiting or yet to recruit as at March 2009

[ Download Booklet ]

  • Research Gaps from Cochrane Reviews April 2009

[ Download Booklet ]

For up-to-date information on individual trials we suggest searching the database under the trial name.
http://www.wombatcollaboration.net/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=18

3. NAIDOC Week 5-12 July 2009

The theme this year is Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth.
This theme encourages communities to acknowledge the status of Elders as leaders and role models for Indigenous youth.

WOMBAT WORKSHOPS

**Brisbane (August) and Sydney (November)**

WOMBAT Protocol Workshop
Brisbane
August 6-7 2009 9.30am – 5.00pm
Corbett Conference Room, Mater Public Hospital (Thursday 6 August)
Mater Private Hospital Conference Room (Friday 7 August)

Aim
To develop a protocol for a clinical trial in maternal and perinatal health.
Objectives
1. participants will write a protocol document which covers all the fundamental aspects of trial design and methodology
2. at the end of the course participants will have the knowledge and resources to complete the protocol on their own
3. participants will have the opportunity to work with other researchers and clinicians who are involved in or intending to carry out a clinical trial in maternal or perinatal healthcare

Workshop Leaders
Professor Caroline Crowther – The University of Adelaide
Associate Professor Vicki Flenady – Mater Health Services

Confirmed faculty
Associate Professor Mark Davies – Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Associate Professor Kassam Mohammed – Ipswich Hospital
Dr David Knight – Mater Health Services
Ms Philippa Middleton – The University of Adelaide
Dr Georgie Stamp – The University of Adelaide
Dr Rebecca Tooher – The University of Adelaide

Earn CPD points
Approved for 16 CPD points from the RANZCOG
Approved by the Australian College of Midwives for 11 MidPlus CPD points
Eligible for CPD points for RACP

Cost: $180.00
For more information or to register, contact:
Dr Rebecca Tooher Ph: 08 8161 7660 Email: rebecca.tooher@adelaide.edu.au  
Kate Reynolds Ph: 07 3163 1591 Email: kate.reynolds@mater.org.au 
Visit our website: www.wombatcollaboration.net

[Download Workshop Flyer and Registration Form]

Data Monitoring Committees: An Interactive Workshop
Sydney (venue to be announced)
13 November 2009
9.30-4.00

Aim
To build capacity in the maternal and perinatal research community and knowledge of data monitoring and relevant committees.

Workshop Leaders (Confirmed)
Professor Caroline Crowther – The University of Adelaide
Professor Val Gebski

Faculty (to be confirmed)

For more information or to register:
Dr Rebecca Tooher, WOMBAT Education Officer. Ph: 08 8161 7660
Email: rebecca.tooher@adelaide.edu.au 
Visit our website: www.wombatcollaboration.net

NEW TRIALS

NOT YET RECRUITING

 A study examining the effects of placebo/oxytocin and baby massage and interaction coaching/information support on early postpartum mothers bonding experiences. ACTRN 12609000483257

An evaluation of Outpatient Foley (intracervical) catheter versus Inpatient Prostaglandin Vaginal Gel (PGE2) on the induction of labour at term. ANZCTRN12609000420246

Efficacy and safety of a novel fish oil based lipid emulsion (SMOFlipid) compared with olive oil based lipid emulsion (Clinoleic) in term and near-term (>34 weeks) neonates – a randomised controlled trial. ANZCTRN12609000337279

OSCAR Trial: A randomised controlled trial of ondansetron to prevent shivering in women undergoing combined spinal epidural anaesthesia for elective caesarean section.
ACTRN12609000445279

TRIALS NEWS

Congratulations to all involved in the PPROMT study for having achieved 600 recruits recently! Also congratulations are due to the A*STEROID study team. Several new centres are in the process of gaining ethics approval and Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Adelaide) and Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne) have a combined tally of 38 recruits since recruitment started this year. The Study team invites new centres to join (see below for more information for both PPROMT and A*STEROID).

ALL TRIALS REQUIRING COLLABORATING CENTRES

**NEW INTERNATIONAL RCT**

The WOMAN (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial) Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage: An International Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. ISRCTRN76912190
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial which aims to recruit 15,000 women, then email: thewomantrial@Lshtm.ac.uk  or go to http://www.trialscoordinatingcentre.lshtm.ac.uk/

A*STEROID: Australasian Antenatal Study to Evaluate the Role Of Intramuscular Dexamethasone versus betamethasone prior to preterm birth to increase survival free of neurosensory disability: a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email pat.ashwood@adelaide.edu.au  

APTS: Australian Placental Transfusion Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email lsebastian@ctc.usyd.edu.au  

A study of Aminophylline for infants less than 12 months of age with bronchiolitis, requiring admission to intensive care
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email carmel.delzoppo@rch.org.au  

BOOST II: Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the maternal and perinatal trials page or email boost2@ctc.usyd.edu.au 

Cervical occlusion in women with cervical insufficiency
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email deemccormack@hotmail.com or visit the trial homepage: www.cervicalocclusion.com

CHIPS Trial: Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.utoronto.ca/cmicr/chips/ or contact Jennifer Menzies at chips@cw.bc.ca   

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) weaning trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email david.todd@act.gov.au or Margaret.broom@act.gov.au  

DETECT: Ductal Echocardiographic Targeting and Early Closure Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email mkluckow@med.usyd.edu.au  

Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler to time second and subsequent transfusions for women with red cell alloimmunisation: a randomised trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email Jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au  

GAS Study: A multi-site randomised controlled trial comparing bupivacaine (regional) anaesthesia versus sevoflurane (general) anaesthesia for effects on neurodevelopmental outcome and apnoea in infants scheduled for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia repair
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email suzette.sheppard@mcri.edu.au  

IDEAL: Investigation of dietary advice and lifestyle for women with borderline gestational diabetes
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ideal@adelaide.edu.au  

MANGO: Midwives @ New Group practice Options A randomised controlled trial of case load midwifery
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email sally.tracy@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

PLUTO: Percutaneous Shunting for lower-urinary tract obstruction
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page  http//www.pluto.bham.ac.uk  or email Prof Mark Kilby at m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

POINT: A randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial on the safety and efficacy of pentoxifylline, as a secondary prophylaxis, in the treatment of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm neonates
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email sanjay.patole@health.wa.gov.au  

PPROMT Trial: Preterm Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes Close to Term Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the maternal and perinatal trials page or email ppromt@med.usyd.edu.au   

Premie Start: Improving neurobehavioural development in preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial of a neonatal intervention
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email christopher.holt@austin.org.au  

PROGRESS Trial: Progesterone after previous preterm birth for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email progress@adelaide.edu.au 

ProPrem: The use of probiotics to reduce the incidence of sepsis in premature infants
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email proprem.study@thewomens.org.au

TBS: Twin Birth Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or www.utoronto.ca/miru/tbs or email tbs@sw.ca  

TIPPS: Thrombophilia In Pregnancy Prophylaxis Study: a muticentre, multinational randomised controlled trial of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin in high-risk pregnant thrombophilic women
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.healthypregnancy.ca or email amclement@ohri.ca  

TWINS: Timing of Birth at Term – a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.health.adelaide.edu.au/og/research/mpctu.html or email twins@adelaide.edu.au

NEW COCHRANE REVIEWS (Issue 2, 2009)

For further information: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/index_new.html

NEONATAL REVIEWS

Animal derived surfactant extract for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. Seger N, Soll R.

Antistaphylococcal immunoglobulins to prevent staphylococcal infection in very low birth weight infants. Shah PS, Kaufman DA.

Effects of restricted caffeine intake by mother on fetal, neonatal and pregnancy outcome. Jahanfar S, Sharifah H.

MATERNAL REVIEWS

Early amniotomy and early oxytocin for prevention of, or therapy for, delay in first stage spontaneous labour compared with routine care. Wei S, Wo BL, Xu H, Luo Z-C, Roy C, Fraser WD.

Effect of administration of antihelminthics for soil transmitted helminths during pregnancy. Haider BA, Humayun Q, Bhutta ZA.

Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour. Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Dowswell T.

Music during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia for improving maternal and infant outcomes. Laopaiboon M, Lumbiganon P, Martis R, Vatanasapt P, Somjaivong B.

Outpatient versus inpatient induction of labour for improving birth outcomes. Kelly AJ, Alfirevic Z, Dowswell T.

Psychological and/or educational interventions for reducing alcohol consumption in pregnant women and women planning pregnancy. Stade BC, Bailey C, Dzendoletas D, Sgro M, Dowswell T, Bennett D.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain relief in labour. Dowswell T, Bedwell C, Lavender T, Neilson JP.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF AUSTRALIAN MATERNAL AND PERINATAL TRIALS

Morris RK, Kilby MD. An overview of the literature on congenital lower urinary tract obstruction and introduction to the PLUTO trial: Percutaneous shunting in lower urinary tract obstruction (Review). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2009;49(3)6-10.

Phipps H, Charlton S, Dietz HP. Can antenatal education influence how women push in labour?: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial on Maternal Antenatal Teaching for Pushing in Second Stage of Labour (PUSH STUDY). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2009:49(3)274-8.

Taft AJ, Small R, Hegarty KL, Lumley J, Watson LF, Gold L. MOSAIC (Mothers' Advocates In the Community): protocol and sample description of a cluster randomised trial of mentor mother support to reduce intimate partner violence among pregnant or recent mothers. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:159.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

Doyle LW, Crowther CA, Middleton P, Marret S. Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate and Neurologic Outcome in Preterm Infants. A Systematic Review. Obstetrics & Gynecology (2009):113(6)1327-1333.

Doyle LW. Antenatal progesterone to prevent preterm birth (Comment). The Lancet 2009:373(9680)2000-2002.

Merlin T, Weston A, Tooher R. Extending an evidence hierarchy to include topics other than treatment: revising the Australian 'levels of evidence'. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2009:9(34) (11 Jun 2009). Open access at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/9/34

Nagel C, Lewis S, Meiser B, Gunn J, Halliday J, Bell R. Exploring general practitioners' experience of informing women about prenatal screening tests for foetal abnormalities: a qualitative focus group study. BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:114.

Vanderveen JA Bassler D, Robertson CMT, Kirpalani H. Early interventions involving parents to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature infants: a meta-analysis. Journal of Perinatology 2009:29;343-351.

CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO MATERNAL AND PERINATAL HEALTH

2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCES

The Australian Lactation Consultant Association (ALCA) National Conference "Breastfeeding: A Key Public Health Issue"
Canberra ACT.
September 4-6 2009
For more information visit http://alca.asn.au/ 

Australian College of Midwives 16th Biennial Conference: "Women & Midwives - A Brilliant Blend"
Adelaide, SA
September 22-25 2009
For more information: http://www.midwives.org.au  and click on Events

Australia and New Zealand 6th Health Services & Policy Research Conference "Health Services Research – Reforming, Responding, Rewarding"
Brisbane, QLD
November 25-27 2009
ABSTRACTS CLOSE 10 JULY
For more information: http://www.healthservicesconference.com.au/registration.html

2009 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

XIX FIGO World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Cape Town, South Africa
October 4-9 2009
For more information: www.figo2009.org.za/announcements/First%20Announcement%20Final%201.pdf 

1st Cochrane Nursing Care Network Symposium
Singapore
October 9-10 2009
Download registration form here

17th Cochrane Colloquium
Singapore
October 11-14 2009
For more information: http://www.colloquium09.com/index.shtml

The 9th World Congress of Perinatal Medicine
Berlin, Germany
October 24-28, 2009
For more information: www.wcpm9.org

6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Santiago, Chile
November 19-22, 2009
For more information: http://www.mrc.soton.ac.uk/dohad/index.asp?page=71 

2010 International Conferences

International Chair [Conference] Francine Gooris, "Quality in Midwifery: Good practice in care and education"

Gent, Belgium

February 25-26, 2010
 For more information: http://project.arteveldehs.be/leerstoelfg/index.asp 

 

7th International Conference of Neonatal Nursing 2010.

Durban, South Africa
October 24–27 2010
For more information: http://www.coinnurses.org/coinn_conf/2010_int_neonatal.htm

 

16th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Venice, Italy
October 28-31 2010
For more information: http://www.ispog2010.com  

Further Information

For more information on WOMBAT initiatives, please contact the WOMBAT Collaboration national coordinator, Dr Georgie Stamp: georgie.stamp@adelaide.edu.au 

The WOMBAT Collaboration is funded through a NHMRC enabling grant.

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