Projects not currently open to students

Project name: Efficacy and safety of Carboplatin combined with Oral or IV Etoposide for treatment of Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC)

Location: Toowoomba 

Project type:  Chart audit and Literature review

Supervisor: Dr Harry Gasper (Staff Specialist, Toowoomba Hospital)

Anticipated project duration: 3 months

Project summary: 

Current standard of care in ES-SCLC is to combine induction chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Etoposide with Atezolizumab. Randomised clinical trials assessing this combination have utilised IV Etoposide. In clinical practice, Oral Etoposide can be substituted, however the evidence is of low quality, based on one randomised trial which was underpowered to prove equivalence. Use of PO etoposide in our centre is high, due to the high prevalence of patients travelling from distances exceeding 100km. This study aims to assess the utility of PO etoposide and examine any differences in survival, survival without progression, patterns of recurrence and safety (measured as objective and implied toxicity and admissions to hospital).

Project name: Expert opinions on skills needed to be a regional intensive care specialist

Location: Toowoomba

Project type:  Qualitative or mixed-methods

Supervisor: Dr Benjamin Cheung, St Vincent’s Private Hospital

Anticipated project duration: 6 months

Project summary: 

Research question: To compare and contrast regional intensive care units with metropolitan ICUs and elucidate the essential and desirable skills for the Intensive Care specialist.

• Study design: Transcribed qualitative semi-structured interviews performed by Drs Giles and Cheung with participants via in-person or videoconferencing when appropriate.
• Participants: Regional Intensive Care Consultants in Toowoomba
• Outcomes: Opinions on skills that are specific or must be to a higher standard in rural centers may be elucidated. 
•  Analysis: The interviews will be transcribed and stored on appropriate encrypted physical media, followed by thematic content analysis to identify overarching themes and areas of interest.

Project name: Glomerular disease following Covid-19 infection or vaccination

Location: Rockhampton

Project type: Literature/systematic review

Supervisor: Dr Zaw Thet (Staff specialist, Rockhampton Hospital), Dr Jordan Fox (Project Officer, UQ Rural Clinical School)

Anticipated project duration: 3-6 months

Project summary:

In view of reports of proteinuria and hematuria after acquiring COVID-19 infection or receiving Covid 19 vaccination, there is a possibility of glomerular disease secondary to COVID-19. More and more cases are reported in the literature and in CQHHS itself, two cases were encountered recently. It is worthwhile to compile evidence on this topic via a scoping review methodology.

Project name: Impact of the Vulnerable Communities Group on the Darling Downs community

Location: Toowoomba

Project type: Qualitative/mixed-methods

Supervisor: Shirley-Anne Gardiner (Executive Director, Toowoomba Hospital)

Anticipated project duration: 24 months

Project summary:

The Vulnerable Communities Group (VCG) was established during the peak of COVID-19 to bring organisations together to work through pandemic-induced challenges. The group consists of over 40 organisations and continues to meet till date, working through issues faced in the community such as homelessness, domestic violence, issues faced by the refugee population and health inequities, to name a few. A preliminary evaluation of the VCG was conducted and findings published in 2021 in the Australian Health Review journal - https://www.publish.csiro.au/ah/AH21230

The proposed study will investigate the impact of the VCG on the Darling Downs community.

Enquiries: To enquire about any of the available projects, please email rcsrc@uq.edu.au with the project title as the subject line.

Project name: Prothrombinex-VF for chronic liver disease - Friend or Foe

Location: Remote

Project type:  Chart audits, literature/systematic review, and mixed-methods

Supervisor: Dr Akmez Latona (Emergency consultant, LifeFlight)

Anticipated project duration: 6 months

Project summary: 

Management of coagulopathy in chronic liver disease (CLD) poses a challenge for critical care physicians.  Prothrombinex®-VF is a low volume product with rapid onset of action. Evidence for its efficacy and safety in CLD is limited and cases of acute intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis (AICF) and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) have been reported. Our objective is to evaluate the role of Prothrombinex®-VF in reversal of coagulopathy and the incidence AICF/DIC, thromboembolic events and mortality.

Note: This project is only suitable for final year medical students and proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required.

Project name: Recognition and management of corticosteroid-related toxicity in cancer patients: Audit of current practice

Location: Toowoomba

Project type: Chart audit and Literature review

Supervisor: Dr Harry Gasper (Staff Specialist, Toowoomba Hospital)

Anticipated project duration: 6 months

Project summary: 

Cancer patients may require prolonged periods of corticosteroid use to treat side effects from chemotherapy, symptoms of disease and manage immune-related toxicity. Long-term corticosteroid use is associated with life-changing toxicity including osteoporosis, impaired skin integrity, diabetes and immunosuppression. Recent cases have highlighted a need for a clinical practice AUDIT to assess compliance with internationally accepted standards. Results from this project are expected to inform alterations to practice and development of a clinical pathway to manage and prevent corticosteroid toxicity in this patient group. The project will also include a literature review to identify standards.

Note: Experience in conducting literature reviews is required for this project

Location: Remote

Project type: Systematic review

Supervisor: Dr Priya Martin, Senior Research Fellow, UQRCS

Anticipated project duration: 12-18 months

Project summary:

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated already existing pressures in healthcare settings that were prevalent even prior to the pandemic. In 2022, the WHO released guidelines on mental health at work, and a global call to action to protect the mental health of health and care workers. Both these international policy documents outline the urgent need to enhance and protect the mental health and wellbeing of the healthcare workforce. Sleep health is intricately linked to mental health. This review will examine the evidence for sleep health in healthcare workers and how the pandemic has impacted this.

Note: Literature review skills are highly desirable for this project

Project name: Treatment failure rate of endometrial ablation vs endometrial ablation and insertion of levonorgestrel intrauterine device

Location: Remote

Project type: Chart audit, quantitative research, literature review

Supervisor: Dr Katie Chen-Dixon (OBGYN Senior Registrar)

Anticipated project duration: 6-12 months

Project summary:

Heavy menstrual bleeding is extremely common and endometrial ablation is often used as a surgical treatment that has less risk and recovery time compared to hysterectomy. However, between 12-25% of endometrial ablation patients have failure of treatment leading to hysterectomy within 2-5 years. There is some evidence that inserting a levonorgestrel intrauterine device (Mirena) at the  time of ablation will lessen treatment failure/hysterectomy rate. Since the insertion of a levonorgestrel device is simple, quick and cost effective, this could revolutionise current clinical treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. 

Project name: Ventilator assisted preoxygenation at LifeFlight

Location: Toowoomba but can be supported remotely

Project type: Chart audit

Supervisor: Dr Akmez Latona (Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Retrieval Medicine)

Anticipated project duration: 3 Months

Project summary: 

Objective: 

To review ventilator-associated preoxygenation at LifeFlight over the past 5 years
Data to be recorded will be obtained from air maestro:

• Search airway registry for ticked boxes ‘’NIV’’ and “preoxygenation”
• Patient demographics and clinical information. This includes risk factors identified by clinician for patients being deemed as risk of desaturation
• SpO2 pre and post NIV as preoxygenative strategy
• Duration of preoxygenation
• Any desaturation during intubation
• NIV settings: mode, respiratory rate, pressure support, PEEP, Fio2
• GCS, compliant or combative and the use of sedation to allow compliance
• Any complications of NIV (vomiting, intolerance, aspiration pneumonia)
• Drugs used to facilitate NIV tolerance/preoxygenation

Note: This project is only suitable for final year medical students