There are about 53 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Malta. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
This study aims to establish whether tocilizumab has any significant effect on procalcitonin levels on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care admission. The effects on other biochemical and clinical markers are also considered.
This is an international, cross-sectional and descriptive study that aims to investigate differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) and that aims to explore the profile and healthcare needs of adults with congenital heart diseases.
The ultimate goal for every health-care system is to have a healthy population by maintaining good physical fitness levels and lifestyle habits, including regular physical activity, good sleep quality, smoking and alcohol abstinence. The main components of physical fitness include body composition, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. National research based on actual and perceived physical fitness levels in University of Malta (UM) students where both physical and non-physical testing are included, is lacking. Also, to the knowledge of the researcher, no such research investigated the relationship between the actual and perceived levels of physical fitness with lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption and sleep). This study aims to investigate the correlation between the actual and perceived levels of physical fitness (body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance and flexibility) by physical and non-physical testing, the correlation between lifestyle patterns (smoking, alcohol consumption and sleep.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease that occurs more commonly amongst the elderly and is caused by the destruction of the joint cartilage. It is considered to be one of the most common joint disorders worldwide and a main cause of disability amongst older adults. After the knee, the hip is considered to be the second most commonly affected joint by OA. One of the functional capacities affected by OA is muscle strength with studies looking into knee OA documenting a decrement of this measure. It is reported that the muscle strength of the quadriceps, hamstrings and other musculature around the hip is significantly impaired in patients with knee OA compared to age-matched controls. Evidence for quadriceps muscle weakness in knee OA is consistent and programs based on quadriceps strengthening exercises as a core component in the management of knee OA are now evidence-based. Lower extremity muscle weakness is also apparent in hip OA. However, compared to the knee, there is less literature on muscle strength in hip OA with guidelines for therapeutic exercise prescription being more expert rather than evidence-based. Therefore, one of the major questions that arises here is whether muscle weakness as observed in knee OA is evident in hip OA, and if so, which muscles are most affected. A concept which has been found to help diminish the effect of decreased muscle strength in the above mentioned muscle groups is optimal core stability. Core stability contributes to strength, endurance, flexibility and motor control all of which optimise the stability of the spine during both dynamic and static tasks in daily normal biomechanical function in patients with a diagnosis of OA knees. Despite such evidence, no studies to the knowledge of the researcher have looked into the effects of core stability on pain and functional levels in patients with a diagnosis of OA hip. A lack of literature in relation to this aspect is due to the unavailability of a gold standard for measuring core stability. Therefore, the objective of this study will be multifold with an investigation into which muscles in the lower limb are predominantly weaker, whether there is core muscle weakness in patients with hip OA, looking for any correlation between both these factors and whether an exercise programme leads to changes on functional activity and pain levels.
Background: Many people think that people with mental disorders might be dangerous or unpredictable. These patients face various sources of disadvantages and experience discrimination on job interviews, in education, and housing. Mental health-related stigma (MHS) occurs not only within the public community, it is a growing issue among professionals as well. Aim: The investigators designed a prospective, observational, multi-centre, international study of 35 European countries to investigate the MHS among medical specialists and trainees in the field of general adult and child and adolescent psychiatry. Methods: An internet-based, anonymous survey will measure the stigmatizing attitude by using the local version of the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers. Presentation of the Results: The results of the research will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. Furthermore, the research team will present the results at national and international conferences.
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new pathology, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which can have negative consequences for pregnant women and their newborns. It is estimated that 1 in 5 women will develop a mental illness in the perinatal period. COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with anxiety and depression in the population. The current pandemic is a unique stressor with potentially wide-ranging consequences in the perinatal period, but little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal mental health. Thus, the objective of this study is to explore the experiences of pregnant and new mothers during the current pandemic, particularly its impact on perinatal mental health (including depression, anxiety, PTSD and psychological distress). Methods: The study design is a prospective observational study, with a baseline assessment and three follow-ups: one month; three months; and six months post baseline. This international study will be carried out in 11 European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom) Chile and Brazil. The study population will comprise pregnant women and new mothers with an infant under six months of age, covering a broad range of women across the perinatal period. Ethics and dissemination: The study and handling of the data will follow all national required data protection standards. Each researcher (or team of researchers) involved will submit the project to their local ethical committee before starting the project. Results from the project will be disseminated in peer reviewed journals and international conferences.
This is an international, mulitcentre, observational, prospective study into Peak Inspiratory Flow in COPD patients that aims to: A) Determine the prevalence of suboptimal Peak Inspiratory Flow (PIF) and inadequate inhaler choice and assess the baseline characteristics of these groups. B) Assess the clinical role of PIF and inhaler choice in predicting COPD exacerbations and symptom burden. C) Assess the variability and correlation of PIF with other lung function measurements and CAT score in stable COPD. It is a 12 month study comprising one baseline assessment and 2 follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months.
The study aims to assess the effect of spinal anaesthesia against a general anaesthesia with a femoral block, with respect to the incidence of chronic pain following a total knee replacement. It will also focus on genetic factors and their influence on chronic pain.
The evaluation of an accurate occurrence rate for AKI is of great importance for health policy, quality initiatives as well as for designing clinical trials. The primary objective is to prospectively evaluate the incidence of AKI within 72 h after extended surgical procedures that require admission to an observation unit.
This study adds to the understanding of the contributing factors leading to LARS, the long term effects of this syndrome post-operatively and its impact on quality of life.