University Of Alberta

This completed trial tested a centralized care model for patients with serious staph bloodstream infections. Over 2,500 adults in Alberta hospitals received automated alerts and expert recommendations to ensure they got the right tests, antibiotics, and specialist care. The goal …

This study looked at whether a short electrical stimulation treatment after surgery can help people with severe nerve injuries in the arm regain hand function. 136 adults with complete nerve damage were randomly assigned to receive either electrical stimulation or standard care. …

This study tested whether a short course of doxycycline, a common antibiotic, can prevent heart damage after a heart attack. 174 adults who had a severe heart attack received either doxycycline or a placebo twice daily for one week. Researchers then used MRI scans to check heart …

This study tested whether a cream called Nefopam can prevent or reduce scarring in burn patients. Fifty adult burn patients had small, controlled scratches made on their hips. One scratch was treated with the Nefopam cream and the other with a placebo cream. Researchers measured …

This pilot study tested a protocol for using a patient's own blood during heart surgery to see if it works as well as donated blood products. Sixty-four adult heart surgery patients at high risk for bleeding were randomly assigned to either donate their own blood during surgery o…

This study looked at whether it is safe to reduce blood pressure medication in frail older adults living in long-term care. Researchers enrolled 522 residents with low blood pressure and tested a gradual medication reduction plan. The goal was to see if this approach could lower …

This study tested whether adding a digital remote monitoring system to a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program helps people with COPD. 78 participants either received the enhanced program with daily vital sign tracking or the standard program alone. The main goal was to see i…

This study tested a six-month home-based exercise program using elastic bands to prevent frailty in 120 adults aged 50-85 with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The program aimed to improve muscle strength and daily functioning. Researchers measured changes in frailty s…

This study tested whether a mobile app designed for cancer survivors can help them exercise more after finishing treatment. 132 breast cancer survivors used either the app or received standard exercise guidelines for 12 weeks. The goal was to see if the app increased exercise, re…

This study tested a set of tablet games called VibrantMinds, designed to be easy and fun for older adults, including those with dementia. 26 participants aged 65+ with mild cognitive impairment played games like Whack-A-Mole and Word Search. Researchers measured changes in thinki…

This study tested a 10-week online wellness program for women with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a chronic liver disease that causes fatigue, itching, brain fog, and emotional distress. The program included guided breathing, meditation, gentle movement, and optional nutritio…

This study tested a 12-week online mind-body program for adults with chronic conditions like heart failure, cancer, and liver disease. The program included mindful movement, meditation, breathwork, and coping skills. Researchers measured changes in anxiety, depression, fatigue, a…

This study tested whether robotic gait training (using a device called Lokomat) or standard physical therapy, or a mix of both, helps children with cerebral palsy walk better. 68 children aged 5-18 participated in 16 sessions over 8-10 weeks. Researchers measured changes in motor…

This study looked at whether different types of exercise training can help adults with congenital heart disease exercise more easily. 47 participants were split into three groups: interval training, moderate continuous training, or usual care (no training). The main goal was to s…

This study tested whether a steroid injection into the thumb joint can reduce pain and improve hand function in people with thumb osteoarthritis. 61 adults received either a steroid shot or a placebo (salt water) and were followed for 6 months. The goal was to see if the steroid …

This study tested whether a mobile app exercise program is practical and helpful for 32 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The program included guided exercises and education to improve arm function, fitness, and quality of life. Results will show if this approach …

This study tested whether a hybrid (in-person and online) physiotherapy program is feasible for children aged 4-17 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ten children and their parents tried the program, which included tailored exercises and games. The goal was to see if families cou…

This study looked at whether giving children with migraine an IV of salt water (a common fluid) in the emergency room can help reduce their headache pain. 46 children took part. The goal was to see if the fluid alone, without any other medicine, could make them feel better.

This pilot study tested whether a 12-week program of special exercises combined with advanced compression garments could reduce arm swelling in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema. Sixty women with mild to moderate chronic lymphedema were enrolled. The goal was to see if the …

This study tested whether metformin, a common diabetes medication, can help improve language, behavior, and weight problems in people with fragile X syndrome. 125 participants aged 6 to 35 took either metformin or a placebo for 4 months. Researchers measured changes in language s…

This pilot study tested whether an 8-week program of neck exercises could reduce pain and improve brain function in women with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD), a common cause of jaw and face pain. 113 women were randomly assigned to either the exercise program or a plac…

This study tested whether an AI-enhanced social robot could help children aged 5 to 11 feel less pain and distress during IV insertion. The robot used distraction techniques, like cognitive-behavioral therapy, to support kids during the procedure. Researchers compared the robot's…

This study tested whether a low-calorie, plant-based diet that mimics fasting could reduce depressive symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 42 adults with mild-to-moderate depression and IBD followed either the fasting-mimicking diet or a calorie-sufficient pl…

This study tested whether ChatGPT can translate health resources about preventing post-COVID condition as accurately as professional human translators. Over 300 adults in Canada whose first language is French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Arabic, Chinese, or Punjabi reviewed eith…

This study tested a special gluten-free food guide designed to help children and teens (ages 5-18) with newly diagnosed celiac disease eat a healthier diet. Forty participants received either standard care or the new guide. Researchers measured diet quality and how well they foll…

This study looked at how much waste is produced by different types of anesthesia during wrist fracture surgery. Researchers collected and weighed waste from general anesthesia, regional anesthesia (nerve block), and a combination of both. The goal was to find out which method is …

This study gathered information from 32 people with cytolytic vaginosis, a poorly understood condition. Researchers aimed to identify risk factors, common symptoms, and how to diagnose it. They also looked at whether baking soda vaginal washes are an effective treatment. The goal…

This study looked at whether the design of a common ADHD screening questionnaire (the ASRS) influences how people answer. Researchers wanted to see if shading and grouping certain answer choices made it easier for patients to guess which responses lead to a positive screen. 587 a…

This study looked at 55 stroke survivors to see if reducing sitting time early after stroke helps with walking and daily function. Researchers also checked if brain scan markers can predict who benefits most from rehab. The goal is to create personalized recovery plans based on e…

This completed study tested two different methods for positioning a dental sleep appliance used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Eleven adults each tried both a standard forward-jaw technique and a technique based on saying certain sounds. The goal was to see if the speech-based…

This study tested whether having dialysis patients regularly fill out questionnaires about their symptoms and well-being helps them communicate better with their doctors and nurses. Over 3,900 adults on dialysis in Alberta and Ontario took part. The goal was to see if sharing the…

This study tested two ways to help 16-17 year olds with congenital heart disease learn to manage their health as they move from pediatric to adult care. One group used a smartphone app for 18 months; the other had a single teaching session with a nurse. Researchers measured chang…

This study looked at how speech production helps reading in adults with and without dyslexia. 56 adults completed reading tasks while sucking a lollipop, holding a bite bar, or having their mouth numbed with lidocaine. The goal was to see if these motor tasks change reading speed…

This pilot study tested two ways to help premature babies breathe right after birth: volume-targeted ventilation (giving a set amount of air) versus pressure-targeted ventilation (giving air at a set pressure). The study included 52 infants born between 23 and 28 weeks of pregnan…

This study looked at whether using common asthma inhalers for four weeks can affect blood vessels and heart function in healthy young adults aged 18 to 40. Participants used either Ventolin, Symbicort, or a placebo inhaler and had tests like ultrasounds and exercise checks. The g…

This study tested whether eating at least two eggs daily can help cancer survivors restore lost muscle and improve their quality of life after treatment. Only 2 people took part, making it a very small feasibility trial. Researchers measured protein intake, body weight, and overa…