It’s definitely an evolving creature- development of views, identities and conceptions of osteopathy: a qualitative enquiry into the student experience in osteopathic undergraduate education.
Item
- Title
- It’s definitely an evolving creature- development of views, identities and conceptions of osteopathy: a qualitative enquiry into the student experience in osteopathic undergraduate education.
- Author(s)
- Stange, E
- Abstract
- Background: Osteopaths' professional identities and overall conception of osteopathy in the UK exhibit diversity on practitioners' views on different aspects of clinical practice. One suggested factor influencing and associated with the development of conceptions of practice is the educational experience. Objective: To explore how views and conceptions of osteopathy develop and evolve during undergraduate education and to identify possible influences of teaching and learning experiences; to investigate the potential role of any other educational background prior to the osteopathic training on the attitudes and beliefs towards osteopathy and the development of a professional identity. Design: An exploratory qualitative approach with elements of grounded theory. Methods: Mature (≥25 years of age) recent graduates of an Integrated Masters in Osteopathy (M.Ost) full-time course at an osteopathic education institution (OEI) in the UK holding any additional prior degree level qualification were purposively selected as participants. Semi-structured interviews were used for data gathering, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and anonymised. Data was analysed and interpreted employing a thematic framework approach and conceptually modelled. Triangulation was completed; peer corroboration for high-level themes and participant confirmation for transcript authenticity was obtained. Results: 10 interviews were conducted with 6 recent graduates from the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) and 4 from the British School of Osteopathy (BSO). 5 high-level themes and 19 sub-themes emerged from the thematic analysis. Both educational and personal experiences influenced the development as practitioner and the formation of an individual professional identity and constituted a process of constant dynamic exchange and evolution. Coming across diversity was re-current notion again pertaining in particular to the professional identity and associated with the subjective clinical expression of osteopathic philosophy. Discussion: The wider literature appeared to support the findings of this study and further highlights the importance of reflectivity of both osteopathic educators and students to improve the educational experience. Reflectivity is further required to avoid a potential divide within the profession due to its inherent diversity. Differences in educational focus between the respective OEIs suggested a potential short-term effect on students' conceptions and may reflect personal inclinations, however, as participants were recruited from only two OEls, no further generalisation could be made. Conclusion: Both educational and personal experiences are suggested to influence the formation of an individual professional identity and the development of conceptions of osteopathy in recent mature graduates with another professional background. Further research is needed to possibly confirm and generalise the findings of this study.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2016
- Date Submitted
- 2.12.2016 17:29:04
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15964
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Education, Osteopathy, Professional identity.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Stange, E, “It’s definitely an evolving creature- development of views, identities and conceptions of osteopathy: a qualitative enquiry into the student experience in osteopathic undergraduate education.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/517