Physiotherapy assessment of breathing pattern disorder: a qualitative evaluation

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore physiotherapists’ opinions of physiotherapy assessment of Breathing Pattern Disorder (BPD).MethodsQualitative study using focus groups (FGs) with reflexive thematic analysis and survey methods. The survey was distributed via social media and email to UK specialist physiotherapy interest groups. Two FGs, conducted in different settings, included physiotherapists based in hospital outpatients/community, private practice and higher education.ResultsOne-hundred-and-three physiotherapists completed the survey. Respondents identified a lack of consensus in how to define BPD, but some agreement in the components to include in assessment. Fifteen physiotherapists participated in the FGs. Three themes emerged from FG discussions: (1) nomenclature and language of breathing, (2) BPD and breathlessness and (3) The value of assessment of breathlessness.ConclusionThe inconsistent nomenclature of dysfunctional breathing pattern impacts assessment, management and understanding of the diagnosis. Clarity in diagnosis, informing consistency in assessment, is fundamental to improving recognition and treatment of BPD. The findings are useful in the planning of education, training, future research and guideline development in BPD assessment.

Patient access to first contact practitioner physiotherapists in the UK: A national survey

“…Once respondents had confirmed their eligibility and provided informed consent, they were directed to the start of the survey questions. The target sample size was 100 respondents, representing approximately 8%–10% of the UK FCPP workforce, and was considered to be an achievable target based on other recent surveys involving physiotherapists and FCPPs (Bater & Sellars, 2022; Grillo et al., 2023; Halls et al., 2020). The protocol stated that in the event of a small number of respondents, the survey would remain open for a further month, but this was not necessary due to the target number being met.…”

Multidisciplinary management of inducible laryngeal obstruction and breathing pattern disorder

“…The key symptom in BPD is dyspnoea; hyperventilation is also often associated with dizziness, chest tightness, frequent yawning, deep sighing and blurred vision [ 14 , 17 , 18 ]. The pathogenesis of BPD remains unclear, but is likely to be a combination of biomechanical and biochemical stimuli and psychopathological factors [ 19 , 20 ]. The most widely recognised form of BPD is hyperventilation; however, this is just one type of BPD and individuals may display different phenotypes including thoracic dominant breathing, forced abdominal expiration, thoraco-abdominal asynchrony and end-expiratory breathing [ 14 ], which may coexist with each other.…”