Difference between perceived quality of life of osteopathic students across a range of osteopathic educational institutions: A quantitative study.

Item

Title
Difference between perceived quality of life of osteopathic students across a range of osteopathic educational institutions: A quantitative study.
Author(s)
Lejour, M
Abstract
Difference between perceived quality of life of osteopathic students across a range of osteopathic educational institutions: a quantitative study It is important to educational institutions that the potential effects of course and curricula on the well being of student should be monitored. The overall aim of the study was to determine if osteopathic training affects undergraduate students’ health. Nevertheless, the researcher introduced precedence within the aims. The primary aims of the study were to investigate the difference between different osteopathic educational institutions (OEIs) in students’ subjective measurements of Quality of Life (QoL). The secondary objectives were to identify any difference between physical and mental health measurements of satisfaction with life, as well as, any demographic influencing factors (such as year of study, age, gender, etc.) on the student’s subjective measurements of QoL. A quantitative questionnaire approach was taken toward subjective measurements of QoL of osteopathic students using the Short Form-36 Version2® Health Survey (SF-36V2) across different OEIs. The researcher (with the help of his supervisor) contacted six different schools, which agreed and allowed their students to participate in the survey. All undergraduate students of the six different OEIs were invited by email to complete an online questionnaire. It was administered using an Internet platform (google drive). Data was collected anonymously and in accordance with the ethical approval. The data-gathering period was from the 20th of June 2013 to the 31st of August 2013. The eligible participants were prospectively divided into two groups. Statistical analysis was used to identify differences between different OEIs and across various demographics characteristics (years of study, age and gender). Depending on the number of groups to be compared, the statistical tests used to assess for normality, variance and statistical difference of the studied data changed. All inferential statistical analysis have been performed via Analyse-it® for Microsoft Excel. A significance level of 0.05 was used. The targeted population comprised more than 900 undergraduate students; the researcher was excluded. 186 students participated to the study, 16 of them met the exclusion criteria and submitted their forms after basic demographic questioning. This study highlighted differences in age and gender of participants as measured by the SF-36V2. The relatively low response rate, the non-random nature of sampling, and the modest number of participants all concur to cast some doubt on the representativeness of the study participants. The results of this study indicate that there are differences between age groups for Group 1 and gender for Group 2. No difference was found between OEIs, year of study and students following either a part time or a full time. The study also found that osteopathic students reported low mental scores and therefore associated risk of depression level.
presented at
European School of Osteopathy
Date Accepted
2014
Date Submitted
20.1.2015 16:43:40
Type
osteo_thesis
Language
English
Submitted by:
62
Pub-Identifier
15506
Inst-Identifier
1229
Keywords
QOL, SF-36, OEI
Recommended
0
Item sets
Thesis

Lejour, M, “Difference between perceived quality of life of osteopathic students across a range of osteopathic educational institutions: A quantitative study.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 17, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/658