Adults with breathing pattern disorder: Current physiotherapy management inAotearoa New Zealand

Category

Health and Environmental Sciences

Description of research project

Welcome to this survey on the physiotherapy management for people with breathing pattern disorder
(BrPD). My name is Abby Stewart, and I am a respiratory physiotherapist and postgraduate student
undertaking a master's qualification at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). I am conducting this
student research alongside my supervisors Dr Sarah Mooney and Professor Richard Ellis.
You are invited to take part in this research survey exploring current physiotherapy management of
BrPD in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ).

For the purpose of this survey, BrPD refers to dysfunctional breathing patterns (e.g. over-breathing,
upper chest breathing, frequent sighing or yawning) that contributes to disproportionate symptoms
such as breathlessness, chest tightness, dizziness, or air hunger, with or without underlying
pathology.

Purpose of this research: Physiotherapists play a key role in treating BrPD. This survey aims to describe and characterise current physiotherapy practice for BrPD in AoNZ, including management components used, delivery formats and clinical considerations that influence management (e.g., comorbidities and contexts).
We welcome the views and insights of physiotherapists of all levels of experience, clinical background and
geographical location.

Time commitment: The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and contains 35 questions, including both multiple-choice and short-answer items.

Prize draw: After completing the survey, you may choose to enter a prize draw for a $500 Prezzy Card. You will
be directed via a link to a separate form that is not connected to your survey responses, so your
anonymity is maintained.

Inclusion and/or exclusion criteria

You are eligible to take part in this research if you:

• are an AoNZ registered physiotherapist with a current annual practising certificate and have
practised in AoNZ for at least 12 months
• currently work clinically with adults (≥18 years) with suspected or confirmed breathing pattern
disorder (BrPD), and have you assessed and initiated physiotherapy treatment for ≥5 such
patients in the past 12 months

Statement of ethics approval

Approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 2026-04-22 for 3 years.

AUTEC approval number

26/79

Contact person

Abby Stewart, abby.stewart@aut.ac.nz

Participant information sheet