UniversidaddeCádiz

BREATH, recognised with a distinction for excellence by the Polish National Agency of the Erasmus+ programme, has developed training guidelines and best practices with the collaboration of a Nursing and Physiotherapy team

Researchers from the University of Cádiz have taken part in the BREATH project, an initiative aimed at promoting physical activity among people with chronic respiratory diseases, with the goal of improving their quality of life and overall wellbeing. The relevance of this project and its outcomes has received international recognition, as the Polish National Agency of the Erasmus+ programme has awarded it a distinction for excellence based on the quality of the work carried out and the results achieved.

A team from the Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy at the University of Cádiz, coordinated by Professor Alejandro Galán-Mercant, has collaborated in this international project alongside other European universities and institutions, including the University of Opole (Poland, coordinating institution), the University of Zadar (Croatia), the University of Klaipeda (Lithuania), the organisation Pixel (Italy) and EIA-Atlántica (Portugal).

Chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD or certain forms of asthma, have a significant impact on the daily lives of those affected. In this context, adapted physical activity has been identified as a tool that can help improve patients’ functional capacity and autonomy, provided that it is carried out following appropriate guidelines and under professional supervision.

The BREATH project has brought together specialists from different fields, including nursing, physiotherapy and public health, to address this challenge from a multidisciplinary perspective. This collaboration has enabled the development of resources aimed both at clinical practice and training, facilitating the integration of physical exercise into the care of these patients.

Among the project’s outcomes, a freely accessible online platform has been developed, offering materials and content targeted at healthcare professionals and students. In addition, best practice guidelines have been produced to promote safe and effective physical activity among individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.

Furthermore, the project has resulted in the creation of a training proposal in the form of a microcredential, available in several languages, including Spanish, aimed at updating knowledge in this field.

BREATH (A European Collaborative and Innovative Partnership to Promote Physical Activity for Patients with Chronic Respiratory Conditions) is a cooperation partnership project funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. It forms part of a higher education initiative focused on international academic collaboration, which has enabled the joint development of programmes designed to improve training and professional practice in the field of chronic respiratory diseases through cooperation between European institutions.

Further information:

Name: BREATH (Project Number: 2022-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000089283)

Funding: Co-funded by the European Union

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.