Table 1

Physiotherapists’ preferred term for this condition and frequency of subjective and objective/observational outcomes used

Preferred term to describe condition (n=103)Percentage (n)
Breathing pattern disorder43% (n=44)
Dysfunctional breathing39% (n=40)
Breathing pattern dysfunction14% (n=14)
Hyperventilation4% (n=4)
Incomplete response1% (n=1)
Patient reported outcome measure (n=103)Percentage
Short evaluation of breathing questionnaire3014% (n=14)
Dyspnoea 122935% (n=36)
BORG (RPE)3946% (n=47)
Nijmegen questionnaire4089% (n=92)
Hospital anxiety and depression17% (n=18)
Other included PHQ, GAD-74 responses
Objective/observational tool (n=101)Percentage
Breath hold3161% (n=62)
End tidal C020% (n=0)
Exercise Ax (eg, 6MWT)39% (n=39)
Manual Ax of respiratory motion3211% (n=11)
Breathing pattern assessment tool1458% (n=59)
Other included lung function1 response
Incomplete response1% (n=2)
  • BORG (RPE), The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE); GAD-7, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment; 6MWT, six-minute walk test; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire.