Does osteopathic training affect students’ quality of life?
Item
- Title
- Does osteopathic training affect students’ quality of life?
- Author(s)
- Muller, F
- Abstract
- Introduction The interest in the body and mind in health and disease is in the osteopath's nature. The consideration of the unity of mind, body and spirit constitutes a foundation stone in the development of osteopathy, and this holistic view on the body was expanded relatively recently by means of the biopsychosocial model and psychoneuroimmunology. There is an increasing interest in the influence of stress on health, also in conventional medicine. Numerous studies were conducted on medical students with regards to stress during medical training and its impact on student health, quality of life, and the resulting effects on clinical performance. This study aims to investigate whether osteopathic training affects students' quality of life, and whether there is an association between year of study and students' subjective measurement of their quality of life. A search did not reveal any research on how osteopathic training affects students' quality of life. Method Data was collected by means of the SF-36v2* questionnaire which was distributed to all undergraduate students at the European School of Osteopathy. 155 students completed and returned a questionnaire which accounts for 62.5% of the undergraduate student population of the current academic year 2012/2013. External physical and emotional stress factors were identified to isolate a sample without any additional stress factors outside the academic life. The SF-36v2* survey assesses physical and mental health by means of eight different domains with 36 questions. It is rated as a valid instrument to assess quality of life (Mc Dowell, 2006). Results Results revealed a gradual improvement of physical health and a gradual deterioration of mental health throughout the course. Nevertheless, scores for both physical and mental health were particularly low in year three. Results also revealed an increased risk of depression in students in all four years, compared to the general population. Conclusion The study of osteopathy is undoubtedly a choice of career that demands the student's full commitment and unfortunately entails health impairments in the mental domain especially due to emotional stress. The fact that students in all years including year one demonstrate mental health impairments and an increased risk of depression suggests that students of osteopathy are particularly sensitive students. As the demands on students' health are particularly high in year three, extra support is needed during this critical transition phase. The maintenance of students' health, thus their QOL is crucial as it promotes good academic achievements and clinical performance, hence the development of a good osteopath.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2013
- Date Submitted
- 20.1.2015 16:42:58
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15462
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- SF-36 student quality of life.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Muller, F, “Does osteopathic training affect students’ quality of life?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 17, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/702