3711 Improving exercise training for sarcopenia or frailty: results from wave 2 of the BEPOP benchmarking and feedback initiative

Abstract Background Resistance exercise is an effective, but often sub-optimally delivered therapy for sarcopenia and physical frailty in older people. The Benchmarking Exercise Programme for Older People (BEPOP) is a UK-wide quality improvement initiative that uses benchmarking and feedback to improve the quality of exercise delivery by physiotherapy services. We present results from wave 2 of BEPOP data collection. Methods NHS physiotherapy services across the UK submitted anonymised details for up to 20 consecutive patients referred for sarcopenia or frailty-related reasons. Data included sarcopenia diagnosis, baseline assessment and reassessment method, delivery of intervention (including type and progression of exercise) and signposting to follow-on exercise services. Descriptive data were analysed for five best practice recommendations and compared with results from wave 1 for sites taking part in both. Results Twenty-eight sites submitted data for 542 patients, mean age 82 (range 60–104) years, mean Clinical Frailty Score 5. Analysis across all sites showed that 279 (52%) participants had a strength-based assessment prior to programme start and sarcopenia diagnosis was undertaken in 316 (58%) participants by discharge from therapy. 496 (92%) undertook some form of resistance exercise but only 222 (41%) progressed intensity. Only 205 (38%) were reassessed at the end of programme using the same strength-based assessment as baseline and 238 (44%) were signposted or referred to follow-on exercise services. For sites taking part in both wave 1 and wave 2, performance for objective strength assessment improved in wave 2 (64% vs 52%), as did intensity progression (33% vs 11%) and onward referral (40% vs 31%). Conclusions We found improvements in several aspects of practice in wave 2 of BEPOP compared to wave 1. There remains considerable room for further improvement in delivery of resistance exercise for older people living with sarcopenia or frailty, which recommendations in the wave 2 report will address.