Clinical Nurse Consultant Quynh Vu is helping to establish Redlands Satellite Hospital in the medical research community by having the Kidney Dialysis Unit take part in its first-ever clinical trial.
The trial, known as the SWIFT (Symptom monitoring With Feedback Trial), is being conducted in collaboration with Redland Hospital and involves multiple centres across Australia and New Zealand.
Quynh said she was excited about the potential impact of the study.
"The trial is set to recruit more than 2,400 participants, with the goal of demonstrating that symptom monitoring can significantly improve both quality of life and survival rates for dialysis patients," she said.
The SWIFT trial aims to address a significant gap in standard dialysis care, which traditionally focuses more on managing levels of urea, potassium, and phosphate in the blood, rather than on patient-reported outcomes like symptom management and overall quality of life.
The study involves patients completing a survey every three months during their dialysis sessions, providing valuable data on their symptoms, which is then used to tailor their treatment.
“In one recent case, a patient reported severe insomnia and by using the evidence-based treatments suggested in the study, we were able to recommend an over-the-counter medication that proved effective and helped her sleep.
"We all know, sleep has a big impact on your quality of life," she said. "We can use simple evidence-based treatment to help our patients feel better everyday."
We wish Quynh every success as she continues to work on the study and tackles her next big life challenge, baby Quynh, coming to Redland Hospital soon.
And remember ... the 4th Annual Bayside Health Service Research Symposium will be held at Redland Hospital on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
This year’s theme is "Better together: how research supports partnerships, innovation, and sustainability in healthcare," reflecting our commitment to advancing healthcare through collaborative research.
Bayside Health Service is calling for the submission of original abstracts focusing on research and quality improvement from all disciplines. You can submit your abstract online now.