TY - JOUR T1 - ERS International Congress 2020 virtual: highlights from the Allied Respiratory Professionals’ Assembly JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00808-2020 SP - 00808-2020 AU - Elizabeth Smith AU - Max Thomas AU - Ebru Calik-Kutukcu AU - Irene Torres-Sánchez AU - Maria Granados-Santiago AU - Juan Carlos Quijano-Campos AU - Karl Sylvester AU - Chris Burtin AU - Andreja Sajnic AU - Jana De Brandt AU - Joana Cruz Y1 - 2020/01/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2020/11/12/23120541.00808-2020.abstract N2 - This article provides an overview of outstanding sessions that were (co)organised by the Allied Respiratory Professionals (ARP) Assembly during the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2020, which this year assumed a virtual format. The content of the sessions was mainly targeted at ARP, including respiratory function technologists and scientists, physiotherapists and nurses, and is summarised in this highlights article. Short take-home messages related to spirometry and exercise testing are provided, highlighting the importance of quality control. In addition, the need for quality improvement in sleep interventions is underlined as it may enhance patient outcomes and the working capacity of healthcare services. The promising role of digital health in chronic disease management is discussed, with emphasis on the value of end-user participation in the development of these technologies. Evidence on the effectiveness of airway clearance techniques in chronic respiratory conditions is provided along with the rationale for its use and challenges to be addressed in future research. Furthermore, the importance of assessing, preventing and reversing frailty in respiratory patients is discussed, with a clear focus on exercise-based interventions. Research on the impact of disease-specific fear and anxiety on patient outcomes draws attention to the need for early assessment and intervention. Finally, advances in nursing care related to treatment adherence, self-management and patients’ perspective in asthma and COPD are provided, highlighting the need for patient engagement and shared decision making. This highlights article provides readers with valuable insight into the latest scientific data and emerging areas affecting clinical practice of ARP.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Calik-Kutukcu has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Torres Sánchez has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Granados Santiago has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Quijano-Campos has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Sylvester has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Burtin has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Mrs. Sajnic has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. De Brandt has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Cruz has nothing to disclose. ER -