You can read the full paper in this internationally peer reviewed open access journal.
The BEPOP project, a collaborative initiative by the British Geriatrics Society and AGILE (the professional network for physiotherapy staff working with older people) was hosted by the National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Newcastle BRC).
This innovative project involved asking NHS physiotherapy services providing community-based exercise for older people, to share details of the exercise interventions they use with their patients.
The resultant intelligence has allowed practitioners to better understand which elements of their exercise programmes are associated with improved patient outcomes which has consequently led to a new set of recommendations for guiding service improvement.
Tangible benefits for patients
Charlotte, a member of the BEPOP steering group, recently completed a NIHR Newcastle BRC funded research internship, focusing on sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass and strength).
She said “This project supports physiotherapy services to improve sarcopenia care with better assessment, diagnosis, and delivery of effective exercise, offering tangible benefits for patients and services.”
Jennie Bailey, Team Lead for the Belsay Day Unit Physiotherapy Service in Newcastle – a participating site in the project – continued, saying that being able to contribute to the BEPOP project was a valuable learning experience. “It has led us to reflect on our clinical practice and make local improvements with sarcopenia diagnosis and exercise progression.”
Ewan Dick, Director of Allied Health Professionals and therapy services at Newcastle Hospitals added “The BEPOP study is a hugely important piece of work and Charlotte’s contribution and support to other colleagues across the Trust has raised the profile, importance and impact and ultimately is leading to improved outcomes for patients.
Charlotte continues to play a leading role nationally and in turn making a positive impact locally in how she helps translate research into improving clinical care.
Ewan Dick, Director of Allied Health Professionals and therapy services
Further findings from the BEPOP project will be presented at this year’s Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) conference in October, see CSP annual conference | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
The publication
The article The Benchmarking Exercise Programme for Older People (BEPOP): Design, Results and Recommendations from The First Wave of Data Collection was written and submitted in collaboration with a number of colleagues including:
- Lorna Caulfield from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust;
- Philip Heslop from CoCreate, School of Design, Northumbria University; and
- Dr Christopher Hurst, Professors Avan A. Sayer and Miles D. Witham from the AGE Research Group, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, and the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre.
Get involved
The BEPOP team are encouraging anyone interested in joining the next wave of the project to email nuth.bepop@nhs.net or visit www.bepop.org.uk for further details.
