Publications by authors named "Pei Loo Ow"

Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer is low. We conducted a 24-1 fractional factorial pilot optimization trial to test four intervention components supporting medication adherence [text messages, information leaflet, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), self-management website], in the preparation phase of the multiphase optimization strategy. Guided by the National Institute of Health Behavior Change Consortium fidelity framework, we investigated fidelity of design, training, delivery, receipt, and enactment of four intervention components.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of low-dose amitriptyline as a second-line treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in primary care, especially when first-line treatments fail.
  • - Conducted as a pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial across 55 general practices in England, the design included both quantitative outcomes and qualitative experiences from participants and general practitioners regarding the treatment.
  • - Participants included adults over 18 diagnosed with IBS who did not respond to initial therapies; they received either amitriptyline or a placebo for 6 months, with a focus on measuring the difference in IBS symptoms to see if the medication has a significant impact.
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Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause troublesome symptoms impacting patients' quality of life and incur considerable health service resource use. Guidelines suggest low-dose amitriptyline for IBS as second line treatment, but this is rarely prescribed in primary care.

Aim: To explore patients' and general practitioners' (GPs) views and experiences of using low-dose amitriptyline for IBS.

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Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) reduces mortality in early-stage breast cancer, but adherence is low. We developed a multicomponent intervention to support AET adherence comprising: text messages, information leaflet, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and side-effect website. Guided by the multiphase optimization strategy, the intervention components were tested in the ROSETA pilot optimization trial.

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Introduction: There remains an unmet need for safe and cost-effective adjunctive treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is safe, well-tolerated and has anti-inflammatory as well as antineoplastic properties. A phase 2 randomised trial of preoperative EPA free fatty acid 2 g daily in patients undergoing surgery for CRC liver metastasis showed no difference in the primary endpoint (histological tumour proliferation index) compared with placebo.

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Background: Most patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are managed in primary care. When first-line therapies for IBS are ineffective, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline suggests considering low- dose tricyclic antidepressants as second-line treatment, but their effectiveness in primary care is unknown, and they are infrequently prescribed in this setting.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Amitriptyline at Low-Dose and Titrated for Irritable Bowel Syndrome as Second-Line Treatment [ATLANTIS]) was conducted at 55 general practices in England.

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Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder that has a considerable impact on patient quality of life and substantial societal and health care resource costs. Current treatments are often ineffective. Tricyclic antidepressants have shown promise in secondary care populations but their effectiveness in a primary care setting remains unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Older and frail patients are often excluded from major cancer studies, creating a need for specialized research, such as the GO2 trial focused on adjusting chemotherapy for this population in advanced gastroesophageal cancer.
  • - The trial had two randomization groups: one comparing different levels of chemotherapy intensity and another comparing best supportive care to a lower chemotherapy dose if treatment uncertainty arose.
  • - Results showed that 514 patients were recruited, primarily men with a median age of 76, and confirmed that lower doses of chemotherapy (Level B) were noninferior in terms of progression-free survival compared to standard doses (Level A).
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