ERS International Congress, Madrid, 2019: highlights from the Allied Respiratory Professionals’ Assembly

Abstract

This article provides an overview of outstanding sessions that were (co)organised by theAllied Respiratory Professionals’Assembly during the European Respiratory Society International Congress2019 in Madrid, Spain. Session content was mainly targeted at allied respiratory professionals such asrespiratory physiologists, respiratory physiotherapists and respiratory nurses, and is summarised in thisdocument. Short take-home messages related to pulmonary function testing highlight the importance ofquality control. Furthermore, novel findings regarding the assessment of functional status call attention tobodily factors that can affect functional status. Regarding pulmonary rehabilitation, data were presentedabout the use of equipment and type of exercise training in COPD and lung cancer. Recent developmentsin physical activity-related research give insight in enablers of physical activity after hospital admission.The importance of integrated respiratory care was also highlighted, with the occupational therapist, nurse,and nutritional and psychological counsellor playing a pivotal role, which relates directly to research in thefield of respiratory nursing that formulates the need for more nursing led-interventions in the future. Toconclude, this review provides readers with valuable insight into some of the emerging and future areasaffecting clinical practice of allied healthcare professionals.