Abstract

Introduction:
The global COVID-19 pandemic forced clinicians to consider alternative methods of service provision to patients with respiratory conditions.
Breathing pattern disorders (BPD) are a common comorbidity affecting approximately one third of patients with asthma. Respiratory physiotherapists within the Portsmouth Severe Asthma Service (PSAS) recognised the need to continue to treat patients with BPD particularly at a time of heightened anxiety.
Breathing retraining requires specific assessment and treatment to ensure optimal outcomes and the decision to use a video conferencing platform was made to utilise the visual medium.
Methods:
To ensure quality service was being delivered, patients using the video conferencing platform to receive respiratory physiotherapy in the PSAS were asked for feedback.
Sixty-nine responses were received. Patients were asked to rate their physiotherapy consultation very good to very poor; how they would prefer to receive treatment; if they would use this method of consultation again and the ease of use of the video consultation.
Results:
Of the 69 responses:
• 68/69 (98%) would use the service again
• 58/69 (84%) rated the service as very good
• 35/69 (51%) would choose video over face to face appointments
• 23/69 (33%) would prefer to be seen face to face
• 63/69 (91%) felt that accessibility of the video platform could be improved
Qualitative feedback was also gathered from patients:
• Excellent quality and a thorough appointment.
• It was helpful to see a clinician face to face via video instead of a phone call

Conclusions:
Video consultations have proven to be a feasible and successful way of assessing BPD in asthma patients. Despite feedback regarding the ease of accessing the online platform being suboptimal, overarching positive responses to video consultations was received. With 51% favouring being seen via video consultation rather than face to face, this has wider implications for treatment choice for patients in the future.