Publications & Guidance
On this page you will find useful documents, publications and reports including recent work of the BACPR.
2023 Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation
This 4th edition of BACPR Standards and Core Components (SCC) has greater emphasis on the need for a person-centred approach for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes (CPRPs). Patients should be afforded the opportunity to engage with the sum of coordinated cardiac rehabilitation activities as outlined in the five core components to enhance their health, wellbeing and outcomes. The six standards remain with greater emphasis on offering patients a choice of when, where and how their CPRP is delivered to ensure their individual needs are met. Guided by the evidence, the SCC are also more inclusive of all patient populations who may benefit from a cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme.
Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation in Practice is a comprehensive, practitioner-focused clinical handbook which provides internationally applicable evidence-based standards of good practice. Edited and written by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR), this book is invaluable for practitioners helping people with heart disease return to health. The text provides an overview of research findings, examines the core components of cardiac rehabilitation, and discusses how to support healthier lifestyles and reduce the risks of recurrence.
The book has been published by Wiley - click here to order.
The BACPR Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation 2012 sets out the Seven Core Standards that patients, health care professionals and commissioners should expect from a high quality Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) and prevention programme.
BACPR recognises that competent health and exercise professionals are essential to the successful delivery of CR, which meets the needs of the patient within a high quality service. We have developed a series of Core Competency Frameworks that encompass the knowledge, skills and competences of professional groups involved in the delivery of each of the Core Components.
BACPR Core Competences will:
- Provide the user with a nationally recognised benchmark and framework for continued professional development.
- Enable service providers and managers to ensure appropriate governance and safe and effective service delivery.
- Advise employers on standardised recruitment, giving a clear picture of the definition of a suitably experienced / qualified practitioner.
BACPR Core Competences for the Physical Activity and Exercise Component
Thirteen Core Competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each competency, with a framework to assess the health professional’s ability to demonstrate their competence in physical activity and exercise prescription.
The working party that developed these competences included:
- Association of Chartered Physiotherapists with a special interest in Cardiac Rehabilitation (ACPICR)
- BACPR Exercise Instructor Network (EIN)
- British Association of Exercise Sciences (BASES)
Download Core Competences for the Physical Activity and Exercise Component
BACPR Core Competences for the Health Behaviour Change and Education Component of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Services
This document provides guidance on the key competences required to ensure the use of best practice standards and guidelines for Health Behaviour Change and Education – an integral component of cardiac rehabilitation. In total, 12 core competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each core competency and a framework to assess the health professional's ability to demonstrate their competency. This document also serves as a tool to monitor the need for continuing professional development for the health professional and supporting staff to achieve specific competences.
BACPR Core Competences for the Diet Component: Healthy Eating and Body Composition
This document provides guidance on the key competences required to ensure the use of best practice standards and guidelines for healthy eating and body composition. In total, 7 core competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each core competency and a framework to assess the health professional's ability to demonstrate their competence. This document also serves as a tool to monitor the need for continuing professional development for the exercise professional and supporting staff to achieve specific competences.
Download BACPR Core Competences for the Diet Component: Healthy Eating and Body Composition
BACPR Reference Tables Booklet
This booklet aims to help you in day to day practice in assessing, monitoring and guiding physical activity and exercise intensity. It includes tables which allow you to have quick access to determining target heart rates and MET values.
Download BACPR Reference Tables Booklet
BACPR Textbook - Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease
A valuable manual to every cardiac rehabilitation programme packed with information to develop knowledge and skills in physical activity, exercise advice and exercise training.
Buy BACPR Textbook - Physcial Activity and Exercise in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease
Who are the Core Competency Frameworks for?
Core Competency Frameworks are intended for use with any staff member who is involved in the delivery of the Core Components of CR throughout the patient pathway, they are applicable to programmes running in both the hospital and community setting. The frameworks can be used to assess competence and to direct Continuing Professional Development [CPD] for staff involved in the delivery of CR programmes. The frameworks provide the facility to tailor their use to the individual’s specific role and responsibilities within a programme.
How do I use the Core Competency Frameworks?
Please download: Guidance on using the BACPR Core Competency Frameworks
Optimum nutritional strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation (2021)
A statement by the BACPR Diet Working Group
BACPR Exercise Professionals Group Position Statement (2019)
Outlining the essential competences and minimum qualifications required to lead the exercise component in early cardiac rehabilitation. The following two statements contained within the document refer to the exercise component of the clinically supervised CR programme in hospital, community or home settings and provide guidance on the competences and qualifications required to lead this component.
Requirements for resuscitation training and facilities for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes (2018)
A joint statement by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and BACPR
Joint BACPR/BSH statement on access of patients with heart failure to exercise-based cardiovascular rehabilitation services (2017)
A joint statement by the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) and BACPR
What is the BACPR exercise protocol for management of CHD patients?
A protocol and transfer forms (to which the patient gives his/her consent) have been developed by the BACPR, to ensure safe and appropriate transition of CHD individuals from Phase III to IV and from primary care to Phase IV. Adoption of the protocol and use of the transfer form will also serve to standardise the information provided to the Phase IV exercise instructor and will promote close liaison between professionals in the long term management of patients.
To download the protocol and forms please click below.
BACPR Exercise protocol
BACPR Transfer Form April 2021
*Please note that if you are using these forms in your everyday practice, ensure that you are complying with GDPR regulations*
BACPR-BHF-BCS-CCP UK Joint COVID Statement (March 2022)
Impact of Continuing Covid Pandemic on Cardiac Rehabilitation services.
EPG Guidance and Statement
The EPG are delighted to be able to share this COVID-19 guidance supplement and updated guidance document. The supplement is intended to help clinicians think about the considerations for returning to face-to-face assessment and groups, as well as those for remote assessment and virtual groups and is therefore written as a 'checklist for best practice'. As with the original guidance document this should be considered a live document that will be updated in coming months.
- Guidance - Delivery of the Physical activity and exercise component during COVID-19 pandemic
- Supplement - Considerations for face to face and remote delivery of the Exercise component during the COVID-19 pandemic
New Resources for CR programmes during COVID-19
COVID-19 Resources Hub for Cardiac Rehab Programmes
BACPR/BCS/BHF COVID-19 Joint Position Statement (May 2020)
Retention of cardiac rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic