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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
ACTRN12618000231246
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
29/11/2017
Date registered
12/02/2018
Date last updated
12/02/2018
Type of registration
Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Australia - Canada (AusCAN) Risk Scale for Pressure Injuries
Scientific title
AusCAN Risk Scale for sitting acquired pressure injuries for individuals with spinal cord injury: a multi site prospective study
Secondary ID [1] 292993 0
NHMRC Project Grant 634388
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
U1111-1202-8492
Trial acronym
AusCAN Risk
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
pressure injuries 304904 0
spinal cord injury 304905 0
deep tissue injury 304906 0
Condition category
Condition code
Skin 304230 304230 0 0
Other skin conditions
Injuries and Accidents 305096 305096 0 0
Other injuries and accidents

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Observational
Patient registry
False
Target follow-up duration
Target follow-up type
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
This is a prospective study of individuals who have acquired spinal cord injury who are followed and regularly assessed for 3 years or until they develop a sitting-acquired pressure injury (SAPI). At the time they develop a pressure injury, they are followed for 12 months or until their pressure injury is healed.
Intervention code [1] 299234 0
Not applicable
Comparator / control treatment
No control group
Control group
Uncontrolled

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 303520 0
The development of a pressure injuries on the pelvis using the NPUAP Pressure Ulcer Classification System (2009)
Timepoint [1] 303520 0
Both acute and chronic participants were contacted every 2 weeks by telephone to screen for the standardised signs of the primary outcome (pressure injury).

If these specific sign(s) were identified by the participant, an unscheduled visit was conducted to determine if a primary outcome was reached (NPUAP Pressure Ulcer Classification System, 2009).

Secondary outcome [1] 341186 0
Spinal Cord Injury Severity - the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (ASI) will be determined. In the acute cohort, the ASI score will be completed at baseline, 3 months and 12 months. In the chronic cohort, a previous ASI score is valid if it has been completed within the past 5 years, otherwise, it will be completed at baseline.
Timepoint [1] 341186 0
Acute group - assessed at Baseline, 3 months, 12 months.
Chronic group - assessed at Baseline.
Secondary outcome [2] 341187 0
Genetic markers - A saliva sample will be taken for extraction of DNA. Initial sample screening will be done using pooled DNA (pools of 40 patient samples) on 2 genome wide association platforms. Candidate genes will be identified; these will be assessed on each individual sample using TaqMan SNP genotyping.

This is an exploratory outcome.
Timepoint [2] 341187 0
Saliva collected at Baseline.
Genotyping within 3 months of the completion of data collection.
Secondary outcome [3] 341188 0
Score on the Braden and SCIPUS Risk Assessments for the development of pressure ulcers.
Timepoint [3] 341188 0
Acute participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30.
Chronic participants: Baseline, 12 months, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [4] 341189 0
Level of function using Functional Independence Measure (FIM).
Timepoint [4] 341189 0
Acute participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24 months.
Chronic participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [5] 341190 0
Degree of spasticity of the muscles of the hip/buttocks and lower limb – using modified Penn Spasm Frequency Scale and a Visual Analog Scale for spasticity intensity.
Timepoint [5] 341190 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [6] 341191 0
Thickness of soft tissue under the ischial tuberosities of the pelvis - will be assessed by standard high frequency ultrasound by making similar measurements as have been made with the open MRI. Measures will be taken in a simulated sitting position.
Timepoint [6] 341191 0
Acute participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months.
Chronic participants: Baseline, 12, 24, 36 months.
Secondary outcome [7] 341192 0
Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference will be measured and recorded.
Timepoint [7] 341192 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [8] 341193 0
Wheelchair seating system – wheelchair, cushion and backrest will be documented and recorded, and the seat to back angle and the seat to floor angle will be measured.
Timepoint [8] 341193 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3,6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [9] 341194 0
Wheelchair posture – wheelchair posture will be documented using a standardised posture assessment that will include assessment of pelvic obliquity.
Timepoint [9] 341194 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [10] 341195 0
Interface pressure mapping between the seating surface and the bony prominences using an FSA™ pressure mapping system. A standardised protocol will be used to calibrate the pressure mapping system and to record parameters from a map that is averaged from 1000 frames.
Timepoint [10] 341195 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3,6,12,18,24,30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [11] 341196 0
Cumulative sitting time will be estimated using a self report questionnaire from the participant for the week prior to each study visit. A questionnaire was designed for this study.
Timepoint [11] 341196 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [12] 341197 0
Activity, support surface and transfer questionnaire – will be completed at each visit.
Timepoint [12] 341197 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [13] 341198 0
Frequency of bladder incontinence - individuals will be asked the frequency of urinary incontinence during the previous month.
Timepoint [13] 341198 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [14] 341199 0
Faecal incontinence - individuals will be asked the frequency of faecal incontinence during the previous month.
Timepoint [14] 341199 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [15] 341200 0
Number of hours of paid and unpaid carer support per week using a questionnaire designed for this study.
Timepoint [15] 341200 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [16] 341202 0
Quality of life measure – Two quality of life instruments, the WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D will be used to examine health-related quality of life.

Responses to the items in the WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D will be used to provide profile scores of health-related quality of life on the different dimensions of the instruments and to compute utility-based health-related quality of life scores.

Profile and utility scores will be used to establish the impact of spinal cord injury on the quality of life of individuals and to track changes over the follow-up period.
3. For individuals who develop SAPUs or suspected deep tissue injury, profile and utility scores will be used to assess the loss in health-related quality of life from SAPUs and suspected deep tissue injury. Modelling, based on changes in health-related quality of life for individuals who do not develop SAPUs and suspected deep tissue injury, will be used to account for the adjustment over time in quality of life following the sudden onset of spinal cord injury.
Timepoint [16] 341202 0
Part A: Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24 months.
Part A: Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.

Part B: for Acute and Chronic Participants with pressure injuries on the pelvis, they will be have the WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D at the following timepoints if they are enrolled in the study as per the protocol at: Time 0, Time 1 month, Time 3 months, Time 6 months, Time 12 months.
Secondary outcome [17] 341203 0
Blood tests – Haemoglobin will be collected and recorded.
Timepoint [17] 341203 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [18] 341204 0
Co-morbidities – Heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, renal failure, liver failure, and any other diseases, will be recorded using a standardised measure: the Charlson Comorbidity Index is a composite tool being used.
Timepoint [18] 341204 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [19] 341205 0
Part B: Telephone contacts will be made until the pressure injury heals or there is resolution of the pressure ulcer or the suspected deep tissue injury using the NPUAP Pressure Ulcer Classification System (2009). At these contacts, the individual will be asked to report the treatments, investigations and costs that have occurred for the pressure ulcer or the suspected deep tissue injury. A checklist cost diary of treatments, investigations and costs will be used for data collection.
Timepoint [19] 341205 0
Part B: All activities related to treating the pressure are collected from the Every 2 weeks until the pressure injury heals or 12 months is reached.


Secondary outcome [20] 341206 0
Risk factors for abnormal tissue overlying the ischial tuberosity following spinal cord injury. A nested case-control design will be used within the AusCAN Risk Assessment for Sitting Acquired Pressure Ulcer prospective study. This study will identify the individuals who have confirmed abnormal soft tissue overlying their ischial tuberosity but without clinical evidence of a suspected deep tissue injury or a SAPU.
Timepoint [20] 341206 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24, 36 months.
Secondary outcome [21] 341441 0
SCI - date of injury
Timepoint [21] 341441 0
Acute group - assessed at Baseline.
Chronic group - assessed at Baseline.
Secondary outcome [22] 341442 0
Blood work - Haematocrit levels will be recorded
Timepoint [22] 341442 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [23] 341443 0
Blood work: Creatinine will be recorded.
Timepoint [23] 341443 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [24] 341444 0
Blood work: Random blood glucose will be recorded.
Timepoint [24] 341444 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [25] 341445 0
Blood work: Albumin will be recorded.
Timepoint [25] 341445 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [26] 341446 0
Blood work: total protein will be recorded.
Timepoint [26] 341446 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [27] 341447 0
Blood work: C-reactive protein will be recorded.
Timepoint [27] 341447 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [28] 341448 0
Blood work: Creatine kinase will be recorded.
Timepoint [28] 341448 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [29] 341449 0
Blood work: Haemoglobin A1c levels will be recorded.
Timepoint [29] 341449 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [30] 341450 0
The CAGE questionnaire to assess substance abuse and will be self-administered.
Timepoint [30] 341450 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [31] 341451 0
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale will be self-administered.
Timepoint [31] 341451 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [32] 341452 0
The Moorong Self Efficacy Scale will be self-administered.
Timepoint [32] 341452 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [33] 341453 0
Question on type of living environment using a questionnaire designed for this study.
Timepoint [33] 341453 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.
Secondary outcome [34] 341454 0
Income source and level using a questionnaire designed for this study.
Timepoint [34] 341454 0
Acute Participants: Baseline, 6, 12, 24, months.
Chronic Participants: Baseline, 12, 24 months.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Acute SCI Cohort
1. Individuals with acute spinal cord injury (either traumatic or secondary to medical conditions) resulting in permanent injury that requires them to use a wheelchair for mobility.
2. Individuals 18 years of age and older.
Inclusion Criteria for Chronic SCI Cohort
1. Individuals with a spinal cord injury (either traumatic or secondary to medical conditions) resulting in permanent injury of more than fifteen years that requires them to use a wheelchair for mobility.
2. No history of a stage III or IV sitting-acquired pressure ulcer.
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
Key exclusion criteria
Exclusion Criteria for Both Acute SCI and Chronic SCI Cohort
1. Individuals with spinal cord injury due to malignancy.
2. Individuals with myelomeningocoele.

Study design
Purpose
Natural history
Duration
Longitudinal
Selection
Convenience sample
Timing
Statistical methods / analysis
Part A: Observational Study
The patients will be categorised into those who developed a SAPU, and those who did not. The data will be analysed as follows:
1. Demographic data will be compared between the two groups using direct comparisons by Chi-squared tests and Student’s T tests.
2. Measured risk factors will initially be compared between the two groups using univariate analyses. A Logistic regression analysis will be used to identify if any of the demographic or clinical variables (last measurements taken prior to first ulcer development or measurement at 30 months for those who never develop an ulcer) are associated with development of pressure ulcer at any time within the 3 year follow-up period. In order to account for any variation between Australia and Canada, the country of recruitment will be included as an additional independent variable. In the case that some variables are highly correlated (and therefore measure some similar underlying characteristic), standard Factor Analysis techniques will be used to identify a reduced set of factors which will take the place of these correlated variables in the regression models.
The Risk Factor Groups that will be considered for the analyses are:
a. Degree of impairment/activity limitation – ASIA motor score/impairment grade, FIM™, 5-AML, degree of spasticity
b. Nutritional status – BMI, waist circumference, prealbumin, serum albumin level
c. Local tissue status – curvature of the ischial tuberosities; thickness of muscle, fat and skin overlying the ischial tuberosities; and strain levels within soft tissues as computed using the Finite Element Method
d. Seating environment – seating system, seating posture, interface pressure mapping, cumulative sitting time, preventative strategies, bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence
e. Psychological factors – level of support from carers and family, substance abuse, educational level, depression/anxiety, locus of control, problem-solving abilities.
f. Co-morbidities – based on history (including traumatic brain injury), blood test results and genetic polymorphisms, Charlson Co-morbidity Index.
g. Injury Duration – acute SCI (within first 3 years) or chronic SCI (more than fifteen years post SCI)
h. Country – Australia or Canada
3. A Cox Proportional Hazards model with time-dependent covariates will be used to identify if any of the risk factors which may change during the course of the study may change the chance of an individual developing a pressure ulcer.
4. A risk assessment score will be calculated from the Logistic regression analysis, which is most closely associated with those patients who develop a SAPU. The sensitivity and specificity will be calculated using a range of different cut-off scores to predict ulcer development, and these will be used to construct a Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve. This curve will demonstrate the relationship between these quantities at different score cut-off points. The sensitivity and specificity for the Braden, Norton and Salzberg risk assessments will be compared with the figures obtained from this study.
5. Individuals who leave the study will be contacted and interviewed to determine if a SAPU occurred. Data acquired for this subgroup will be compared with that for patients who remained in the study, to determine if those who leave the study influence the study sample.


Part B: Health Economics
Health-Related Quality of Life
1. Responses to the items in the AQoL will be used to provide profile scores of health-related quality of life on the four dimensions of the instrument (independent living, social relationships, physical senses and psychological wellbeing) and to compute utility-based health-related quality of life scores. The latter will be calculated using the SPSS computer scoring algorithm that is available to users.
2. Profile and utility scores will be used to establish the impact of spinal cord injury on the quality of life of individuals and to track changes over the follow-up period. Australian population norms for the AQoL are available.
3. For individuals who develop SAPUs, profile and utility scores will be used to assess the loss in health-related quality of life from SAPUs. Modelling, based on changes in health-related quality of life for individuals who do not develop SAPUs, will be used to account for the adjustment over time in quality of life following the sudden onset of spinal cord injury.


Recruitment
Recruitment status
Active, not recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
1/06/2011
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
1/11/2016
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
1/11/2019
Actual
Sample size
Target
480
Accrual to date
Final
109
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
NSW,SA,WA
Recruitment hospital [1] 9464 0
Fiona Stanley Hospital - Murdoch
Recruitment hospital [2] 9465 0
The Royal Adelaide Hospital - Adelaide
Recruitment hospital [3] 9466 0
Royal North Shore Hospital - St Leonards
Recruitment hospital [4] 9468 0
Fremantle Hospital and Health Service - Fremantle
Recruitment postcode(s) [1] 18190 0
6150 - Murdoch
Recruitment postcode(s) [2] 18191 0
5000 - Adelaide
Recruitment postcode(s) [3] 18192 0
2065 - St Leonards
Recruitment postcode(s) [4] 18194 0
6160 - Fremantle
Recruitment outside Australia
Country [1] 9400 0
Canada
State/province [1] 9400 0
Ontario and Quebec

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 297619 0
Government body
Name [1] 297619 0
NHMRC
Country [1] 297619 0
Australia
Funding source category [2] 298106 0
Charities/Societies/Foundations
Name [2] 298106 0
Rick Hansen Institute
Country [2] 298106 0
Canada
Funding source category [3] 298190 0
Charities/Societies/Foundations
Name [3] 298190 0
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
Country [3] 298190 0
Canada
Primary sponsor type
University
Name
University of Western Australia
Address
Mailbox M460,
Perth, Western Australia 6009
Country
Australia
Secondary sponsor category [1] 297288 0
Charities/Societies/Foundations
Name [1] 297288 0
Rick Hansen Institute
Address [1] 297288 0
6400-818 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9
Country [1] 297288 0
Canada
Secondary sponsor category [2] 297289 0
Charities/Societies/Foundations
Name [2] 297289 0
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
Address [2] 297289 0
90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 601
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4P 2Y3
Country [2] 297289 0
Canada

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 298709 0
South Metropolitan Health Service - Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics committee address [1] 298709 0
Ethics committee country [1] 298709 0
Australia
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 298709 0
10/04/2010
Approval date [1] 298709 0
10/05/2010
Ethics approval number [1] 298709 0
10/101

Summary
Brief summary
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 77974 0
A/Prof Jillian M Swaine
Address 77974 0
Institute for Health Research
The University of Notre Dame Australia
19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
Fremantle WA 6959
Country 77974 0
Australia
Phone 77974 0
+61 8 6151 1226
Fax 77974 0
+61 8 9433 0210
Email 77974 0
jillian.swaine@nd.edu.au
Contact person for public queries
Name 77975 0
Jillian M Swaine
Address 77975 0
Institute for Health Research
The University of Notre Dame Australia
19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
Fremantle WA 6959
Country 77975 0
Australia
Phone 77975 0
+61 8 6151 1226
Fax 77975 0
+61 8 9433 0210
Email 77975 0
jillian.swaine@nd.edu.au
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 77976 0
Jillian M Swaine
Address 77976 0
Institute for Health Research
The University of Notre Dame Australia
19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
Fremantle WA 6959
Country 77976 0
Australia
Phone 77976 0
+61 8 6151 1226
Fax 77976 0
+61 8 9433 0210
Email 77976 0
jillian.swaine@nd.edu.au

No information has been provided regarding IPD availability


What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided



Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
SourceTitleYear of PublicationDOI
EmbaseUltrasound imaging of tissue overlying the ischial tuberosity: Does patient position matter?.2019https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2019.07.001
N.B. These documents automatically identified may not have been verified by the study sponsor.