eMJA: MJA/Wyeth Award 2006

MJA/Wyeth Award 2006

MJA 2007; 187 (1): 50

The MJA/Wyeth Award for excellence in clinical research was awarded at the recent AMA National Conference in Melbourne in May 2007.

It was awarded to Conrad Loten, Barrie Stokes, David Worsley, Jamie Seymour, Simon Jiang and Geoffrey Isbister for their research paper “A randomised controlled trial of hot water (45ºC) immersion versus ice packs for pain relief in bluebottle stings” published in the 3 April 2006 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

Each summer, thousands of Australians enjoy the sun, surf and sand of our iconic beaches. But these idyllic surroundings are not without dangers. Sharks stalk surfers, rips drag swimmers into deep waters, and on occasions a flotilla of bluebottles may play havoc with the stings from their long tentacles. The research team’s study involved a randomised controlled trial which showed that immersion of the affected part in hot water (45ºC) was far more effective in alleviating the pain from bluebottle stings compared with ice packs. In presenting the award, Dr Michael Lee, Medical Director, Wyeth Australia, stated:

“Our association with the MJA/Wyeth Prize now spans over more than 10 years and in that time we recall that a wide range of research work has been recognised by the award. We are pleased to see that this year we continue to add to the variety. We applaud the winning research team for taking evidence-based medicine to interesting places like the beach . . . Their findings will help many”.

MJA/Wyeth Award at the AMA National Conference, May 2007: Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, President AMA; Dr Martin Van Der Weyden, Editor, Medical Journal of Australia; Associate Professor Geoffrey Isbister, Dr Conrad Loten, MJA/Wyeth awardees; Dr Michael Lee, Medical Director, Wyeth Australia.

Recipients of the MJA/Wyeth Award 1995–2006

The Wyeth Award includes a $10,000 prize for the authors of the best clinical research article published in The Medical Journal of Australia each year.


2006	A randomised controlled trial of hot water (45ºC) immersion versus ice packs for pain relief in bluebottle stings Conrad Loten, Barrie Stokes, David Worsley, Jamie Seymour, Simon Jiang and Geoffrey Isbister. Med J Aust 184: 329-333. <eMJA full text>
2005	Efficacy of an alcohol/chlorhexidine hand hygiene program in a hospital with high rates of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection Paul D R Johnson, Rhea Martin, Laurelle J Burrell, Elizabeth A Grabsch, Susan W Kirsa, Jason O’Keeffe, Barrie C Mayall, Deidre Edmonds, Wendy Barr, Christopher Bolger, Humsha Naidoo and M Lindsay Grayson. Med J Aust 183: 509-514. <eMJA full text>
2004	Preventing pressure ulcers with the Australian Medical Sheepskin: an open-label randomised controlled trial Damien J Jolley, Robyn Wright, Sunita McGowan, Mark B Hickey, Don A Campbell, Rodney D Sinclair, Kenneth C Montgomery. Med J Aust 180: 324-327. <eMJA full text>
2003	Effectiveness of ototopical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media in Aboriginal children: a community-based, multicentre, double-blind randomised controlled trial Sophie Couzos, Traven Lea, Reinhold Mueller, Richard Murray, Margaret Culbong. Med J Aust 179: 185-190. <eMJA full text>
2002	Sharing the true stories: improving communication between Aboriginal patients and healthcare workers Alan Cass, Anne Lowell, Michael Christie, Paul L Snelling, Melinda Flack, Betty Marrnganyin, Isaac Brown. Med J Aust 176: 466-470. <eMJA full text>
2001	The effects of quality improvement interventions on inhospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction Ian A Scott, Michael D Coory, Catherine M Harper. Med J Aust 175: 465-470.
2000	Reducing premature death and renal failure in Australian Aboriginals: a community-based cardiovascular and renal protective program Wendy E Hoy, Philip R Baker, Angela M Kelly, Zhiqiang Wang. Med J Aust 172: 473-478. <eMJA full text>
1999	Impact of improved diagnosis and treatment on prevalence of gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection in remote Aboriginal communities on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Penny J Miller, Paul J Torzillo, Wayne Hateley. Med J Aust 170: 429-432.
1998	Outdoor air pollution and children's respiratory symptoms in steel cities of New South Wales Peter R Lewis, Michael J Hensley, John Wlodarczyk, Ruth C Toneguzzi, Victoria Westley-Wise, Trevor Dunn, Dennis Calvert. Med J Aust 169: 459-463. <eMJA full text>
1997	A high incidence of melanoma found in patients with multiple dysplastic naevi by photographic surveillance John W Kelly, Josephine M Yeatman, Cheryl Regalia, Grahame Mason, Amanda P Henham. Med J Aust 167: 191-194. <eMJA full text>
1996	An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in the Torres Strait, Australia, 1995 Jeffrey Hanna, Scott A Ritchie, Debra A Phillips, Jack Shield, M Clare Bailey, John S Mackenzie, Michael Poidinger, Bradley J McCall, Phillip J Mills. Med J Aust 165: 256-260. <eMJA full text>
1995	Gastric emptying in acute overdose: a prospective randomised controlled trial Susan M Pond, David J Lewis-Driver, Gail M Williams, Adèle C Green, Noel W Stevenson. Med J Aust 163: 345-349.