WORLD’S LARGEST STUDY IN INTRAVENOUS CATHETER SECUREMENT FOR CHILDREN AND CATHETER FAILURE REDUCTION
Brooke Charters, Paediatric Emergency Nurse
Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE
Filmed in Southport, Queensland | December 2024
Brooke Charters is a dynamic Paediatric Emergency Nurse who works at the Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland.
After leaving school unsure of her career path, she ventured into disability support, which sparked her interest in nursing. She pursued a Bachelor of Nursing at Southern Cross University, and during her placement in Africa, she discovered her passion for paediatrics instead of mental health nursing.
Since completing her post grad certificate in paediatric acute care and a passion ignited from working frontline in the Paediatric Emergency, Brooke has developed a wide variety of clinical research interests, especially in cannulation, children’s mental health trauma and pain management.
An opportunity arose when she was approached for research ideas related to securing cannulas, a frequent issue in paediatric care.
Brooke was the first nurse to become a Principal Investigator on an Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) Queensland Research Program grant when it was opened to nurses. Having seen first-hand how one in four cannulas used in treating children were failing
and needed to be reinserted Brooke looked for an opportunity to find a solution.
The study enrolled children aged six months to eight years, aiming to save cannulas and reduce reinsertion trauma. Her study’s findings showed significant improvements in securing cannulas, highlighting a potential solution to a common problem.
Brooke initiated a study with a randomised control trial (RCT) comparing standard care to an integrated dressing with tissue adhesive.
Brooke’s research became the world’s largest study of its kind and in May 2024 the results of the study were published in JAMA Pediatrics. Her mission is to drive change and enhance the hospital experience for children globally.
-
HEALTH CARE BRIEF: Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) – Incidence rates, symptoms, risks, research & innovation
-
Significant funding announced for NSW biomedical researchers
The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) has announced a new $24 million investment in three outstanding Australian biomedical researchers through its prestigious Snow Fellowships.
These Fellows will tackle major global health challenges spanning autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, and genetic disease. Their work addresses conditions that disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, including First Nations communities, while advancing precision medicine and translational care. Collectively, their research aims to deliver safer vaccines, better diagnostics, and more equitable genomic and neurological healthcare.
-
Misinformation impacts routine vaccines
More significant changes in recent years have been health-related misinformation eroding trust in healthcare professionals, leading to people seeking alternative treatments or avoiding medical advice altogether. This can make it more difficult for healthcare professionals to provide effective treatment and care.
Recent vaccines delivered as part of the COVID-19 response, are having a consequential impact on the uptake of routine vaccines.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Paul Griffin, an Infectious Diseases Physician and Microbiologist at Mater Health, and who has been involved in over 150 clinical trials in the field of infectious disease.
Paul talks about the importance of having reputable sources of information that can used to encourage people to understand what is involved in clinical trials and the roles of vaccines.
