Osteopaths’ attitudes to patients with mental health problems
Item
- Title
- Osteopaths’ attitudes to patients with mental health problems
- Title
- Osteopaths’ attitudes to patients with mental health problems
- Author(s)
- Kane Elizabeth
- Abstract
- Objectives: In general medicine it appears that negative attitudes are held by practitioners towards patients suffering with mental illness, which can adversely affect patients’ treatment and recovery. This study aimed to identify if osteopaths hold negative beliefs and whether beliefs influence attitudes to treatment. Methods: A questionnaire survey with one of four hypothetical patient vignettes was emailed to a sample of 1000 registered osteopaths. Vignettes were identical for back pain details but patients were described as having a previous diagnosis of either, depression, schizophrenia, diabetes or high cholesterol. Participants rated agreement with 11 attitudinal statements and results were analysed to determine any significant differences between the 4 groups. Results: 204 questionnaires were completed. In contrast to other healthcare professionals (Dixon et al, 2008), osteopaths in this sample did not show any significant differences in attitudes toward patients with mental health problems compared to those with physiological health problems. There were no significant differences in attitude towards patients with mental health issues in terms of practitioners’ personal experience or previous training relating to psychological illness. Conclusions: The osteopaths in this sample did not view patients with mental health problems in a negative manner and it did not appear to affect their attitudes towards treatment. Further research is recommended to explore whether the undergraduate osteopathic training influences attitudes or whether people attracted to study osteopathy have more positive views about mental illness.
- Abstract
- Objectives: In general medicine it appears that negative attitudes are held by practitioners towards patients suffering with mental illness, which can adversely affect patients’ treatment and recovery. This study aimed to identify if osteopaths hold negative beliefs and whether beliefs influence attitudes to treatment. Methods: A questionnaire survey with one of four hypothetical patient vignettes was emailed to a sample of 1000 registered osteopaths. Vignettes were identical for back pain details but patients were described as having a previous diagnosis of either, depression, schizophrenia, diabetes or high cholesterol. Participants rated agreement with 11 attitudinal statements and results were analysed to determine any significant differences between the 4 groups. Results: 204 questionnaires were completed. In contrast to other healthcare professionals (Dixon et al, 2008), osteopaths in this sample did not show any significant differences in attitudes toward patients with mental health problems compared to those with physiological health problems. There were no significant differences in attitude towards patients with mental health issues in terms of practitioners’ personal experience or previous training relating to psychological illness. Conclusions: The osteopaths in this sample did not view patients with mental health problems in a negative manner and it did not appear to affect their attitudes towards treatment. Further research is recommended to explore whether the undergraduate osteopathic training influences attitudes or whether people attracted to study osteopathy have more positive views about mental illness.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15067
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Mental illness, Comorbidity, Discrimination, Stigma, attitude to health; stereotyping
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Kane Elizabeth, “Osteopaths’ attitudes to patients with mental health problems”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 14, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/1769