Mind the gap: identifying the latest physiotherapy research needs from the 5th edition of the Standards of Care and Good Clinical Practice for the Physiotherapy Management of Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Objectives: The Standards of Care and Good Clinical Practice for the Physiotherapy Management of Cystic Fibrosis1 (SoC) provides a comprehensive overview of evidence and guidelines to support physiotherapists working in cystic fibrosis (CF). The SoC is updated every 3-5 years which involves: 1. identifying authors for each chapter, 2. searching for literature published since the previous edition, 3. reviewing literature, 4. incorporating recent evidence into the SoC. All authors are specialist professionals working in CF. The 5th edition of the SoC was compiled in 2024. We aimed to use the SoC to identify areas of physiotherapy care that lacked robust evidence in order to create recommendations for future research. Method(s): We used content analysis to identify statements in the 5th edition of SoC indicating future research recommendations. Statements were then compared, grouped and categorised in order to: 1. remove duplication, 2. create a framework containing all statements, 3. aid future prioritisation of research questions. Result(s): 63 statements indicating future research recommendations were identified from the SoC (17 chapters). 54 statements remained following removal of duplicates. Statements were grouped into 23 subject matter groups and categorised into 5 main categories: 1. Routine physiotherapy interventions, 2. Musculoskeletal problems, 3. Management of specific issues, 4. Infection intervention and management, 5. Physiotherapy extended scope of practice. Conclusion(s): Findings indicated that the latest update of the SoC identified many questions about physiotherapy care that have not yet been answered by the evidence-base which fell within 5 categories. Collaborative work with the CF community is needed to prioritise these research questions and establish recommendations directing future research efforts. 1. Cystic Fibrosis Trust 2020. Standards of care and good clinical practice for the physiotherapy management of cystic fibrosis. 4th ed. London Copyright © 2025