WOMBAT Newsletter
    September 2009


Welcome to the September 2009 issue.

In this issue:

WOMBAT WORKSHOPS

Independent Data Monitoring Committees: An Interactive Workshop

Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney
13 November 2009  09.30-16.00

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

Workshop faculty:
Professor Caroline Crowther - The University of Adelaide
Professor Val Gebski - NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney
Dr Lisa Askie - NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney
Ms Philippa Middleton - The University of Adelaide
Professor Jonathan Morris - Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney
Associate Professor David Osborn - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney
Professor Christine Roberts, University of Sydney
Professor William Tarnow-Mordi, University of Sydney
Dr Georgie Stamp, The University of Adelaide

For more information or to register, contact: Dr Georgie Stamp, WOMBAT National Coordinator.
Email: georgie.stamp@adelaide.edu.au  
Ph: 08 8313 1427

Probiotics for Prevention of All Case Mortality and Necrotising Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants: One Day Workshop

Loewenthal Auditorium, Westmead
Education & Conference Centre, Level 2,
Westmead Hospital, Sydney
20th November 2009, 08.30-16.30

Contact: eileenm@westgate.wh.usyd.edu.au

Magnesium Sulphate for Neuroprotection of the Neonate – developing clinical practice guidelines.

Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
Norwich seminar room, Norwich Centre, 77 King William RD (across the road from the Women's and Children's Hospital).
Saturday 12th December 2009, 09.00 – 16.30

Cost: $120

Aim:
Educational workshop to finalise national guidelines.

Workshop Faculty:
Caroline Crowther – The University of Adelaide
Lex Doyle – University of Melbourne
Philippa Middleton - The University of Adelaide

Contact: tanya.bubner@adelaide.edu.au

COMPLETED TRIAL

Oral or rectal, diclofenac or paracetamol for the relief of perineal pain after childbirth: a randomised controlled trial. ACTRN12609000555257.

NEW TRIALS

Probiotic Eczema Prevention Study. Currently recruiting.

Persistent occipito-posterior: outcomes following digital rotation. The “POPOUT” Study. ACTRN12609000833268 Not yet recruiting.

Perinatal treatment of depression. ACTRN12609000831280. Not yet recruiting.

ALL TRIALS REQUIRING COLLABORATING CENTRES

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 WOMBAT 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   

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

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 WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ppromt@med.usyd.edu.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

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

TRIALS WITH THE COORDINATING BASE OVERSEAS

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   

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 or visit http//www.pluto.bham.ac.uk or email Prof Mark Kilby at m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

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 multicentre, 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

The WOMAN (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial) Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage: An International Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. ISRCTRN76912190
thewomantrial@Lshtm.ac.uk  or http://www.trialscoordinatingcentre.lshtm.ac.uk/

WOMBAT PROFILE

Jann Foster (NSW Regional Coordinator)

Jann trained at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and has since accumulated about twenty-five years clinical nursing experience with over fifteen of these in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units. She travelled to Scotland for her midwifery training at the Falkirk and Stirling Royal Infirmaries in the early 1980s. On her return her interest was directed toward neonatal intensive care and she gained her NICU certificate at the Westmead hospital later undertaking a graduate diploma of applied science (advanced clinical nursing, neonatal). Jann then gained further clinical experience at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women and by casual employment at a number of other neonatal units. She returned to Westmead as the clinical nurse educator in the late 1990s. Jann says that it was around the late 1990s adjunct nursing professors were being introduced into the health care system in NSW to encourage and help clinical nurses be more involved and knowledgeable in research. At that time there was scepticism from some health professionals about this new academic nursing role. Jann reflects: “I remember hearing some fairly negative comments by some of my medical colleagues but I made an appointment with the newly appointed nursing professor to discuss my interest in research. It wasn’t long after that I was seconded as a research assistant and enrolled in a research degree at the same time I was studying for a Masters in health science education.” Jann continues: “My professional life became very exciting, undertaking my own research projects, publishing and mentoring others with their projects. In essence I was able to combine my passion for neonatal nursing, research and education. Over the past years I have had a number of different positions such as research officer, project officer for a nursing leadership program, senior lecturer coordinating a neonatal/paediatric postgraduate program, and am currently a coordinator for the Australian Cochrane Neonatal Group, and the NSW/Canberra coordinator for Wombat”. Jann has an interest in both quantitative and qualitative research and is currently completing her doctoral studies on the history of the introduction of the nurse practitioner role in NSW. For Jann, the value of mentoring cannot be underestimated. “I have been very fortunate to have had good nursing and medical mentors during my career and I very much enjoy the collegiality of working in multidisciplinary projects.”

WOMBAT NEWS

The WOMBAT Advisory Group held their annual meeting in Adelaide on the 18th September, 2009. The group meets annually and this year, topics discussed included:

  • Status of current trials

  • Research gaps booklet updated

  • Development of WOMBAT resources (such as trials booklet, website updates and information tool kits constructed)

  • Educational workshops completed

The group are committed to establishing Regional Networks in each state. The aim is to facilitate interactive liaison between major and smaller research centres.

The annual meeting held in Adelaide also provided an opportunity for the WOMBAT state regional co-ordinators to meet. The co-ordinators focus is on dissemination of WOMBAT resources and assisting local researchers in preparing and conducting research activities.


(from left, Michelle Kealy NT; Glenda Hawley QLD; Jann Foster NSW; Claire Parker WA; Georgie Stamp National Coordinator)

WOMBAT would like to farewell Dr Rebecca Tooher. Rebecca, in her role of Education Officer, was responsible for the development of WOMBAT’s excellent educational and methodological materials, and many of the resources freely available on the WOMBAT website: www.wombatcollaboration.net, under the ‘Resource’ tab. We wish Rebecca well in her new pursuits.

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.

TRIAL SHOWCASE

'Immunogenicity and safety of acellular pertussis vaccine at birth'.

Currently, vaccines to protect against pertussis (whooping cough) are given from 2 months of age, but almost one third of infant hospitalisations for pertussis occur prior to 2 months. Some earlier studies of older pertussis vaccines suggested that vaccination at birth was not appropriate. However, these studies were small and their results are no longer relevant in the acellular pertussis vaccine era. More recent studies of acellular pertussis vaccine at birth suggest that this has advantages.

This multicentre study will randomly assign newborn infants at birth to acellular pertussis (Pa) vaccine versus current standard practice.

This study aims to show whether earlier vaccination gives better protection from pertussis at the time when babies are most likely to die from this infection.

The study is a NHMRC funded project and is currently going through the ethics approval process. For further information please contact Dr. Nicholas Wood at NicholW3@chw.edu.au 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

The INIS Study Collaborative Group. The INIS Study. International Neonatal Immunotherapy Study: non-specific intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for suspected or proven neonatal sepsis: an international, placebo controlled, multicentre randomised trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2008,8:52 (Protocol)

McDonnell NJ, Paech MJ, Browning RM, Nathan EA. A randomised comparison of regular oral oxycodone and intrathecal morphine for post-caesarean analgesia. Int J of Obstet Anesth (2009), doi;10.1016/j.ijoa.2009.03.004

Dickinson, JE, Doherty DA. Optimization of third-stage management after second-trimester medical pregnancy termination. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201; Jul 25.

Petch J, Halford WK. Psycho-education to enhance couples' transition to parenthood. Clinical Psychology Review 28 (2008);1125-1137

Carmo KB, Evans N, Paradisis M. Duration of indomethacin treatment of the preterm patent ductus arteriosus as directed by echocardiography. J Pediatr 2009.06.013 (article in press).

Boyle RJ, Mah L-J, Chen A, Kivivuori S, Robins-Browne RM Tank M L-K. Effects of lactobacillus GG treatment during pregnancy on the development of fetal antigen-specific immune responses. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2008(38), 1882-1890 side study to Probiotic Eczema Prevention Study

Lahtinen SJ et al. Prenatal probiotic administration can influence Bifidobacterium microbiota development in infants at high risk of allergy. Letters to the Editor. J Allergy Clin Immunol.Vol 123, No2 side study to Probiotic Eczema Prevention Study

Smith CA, Cochrane S. 2009. Does acupuncture have a place as an adjunct treatment during pregnancy? A review of randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews. Birth, 36: 3. 246-253

CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO MATERNAL AND PERINATAL HEALTH

2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCES

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

Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ)
2009 Annual Scientific Meeting
 Auckland, New Zealand.
October 30 – November 1 2009.
For more information: http://www.somanz.org/annual.htm or email sneylon@racp.edu.au

2009 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

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

 

17th Cochrane Colloquium
Singapore
October 11-14 2009-06-23
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
 

Women’s Hospitals Australasia WHA Conference
9-11 November 2009
Sebel & Citigate
King George Square Brisbane.
 

Children's Hospitals Australasia CHA Conference
11-13 November 2009
Sebel & Citigate
King George Square Brisbane.
For more information:  www.wcha2009.com
Contact Conference Manager on estevens@arinex.com.au

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 Conferences

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting
Adelaide, SA
21-24 March 2010
For more information: http://www.ranzcog2010asm.com.au/ 

14th Perinatal Society of Australia & New Zealand (PSANZ) Congress
28-31 March 2010
Wellington, NZ
*Submission of Abstracts close 30th October 2009*
For more information: http://www.psanz.com.au/default.aspx  

3rd Biennial Breathing New Life into Maternity Care: multidisciplinary conference
 (Australian College of Midwives in conjunction with Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine)
1-4 July 2010
Alice Springs, NT
*Submission of Abstracts close 2nd November 2009 *
For more information: www.breathingnewlife.remark.com.au 

ISA (International Stillbirth Alliance) and ISPID (International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death) Joint Conference - Precious lives: global collaboration in stillbirth and infant death
8-10 October, 2010
Sydney, Australia
For more information: www.isaispid2010.com  

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  

 

International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care
Nice, France
 April 20-23 2010
Abstracts close 21 Sept 2009
For more information: http://internationalforum.bmj.com/  

 

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.

If you would prefer to stop receiving WOMBAT newsletter, please send your email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line to unsubscribe@wombatcollaboration.net.