The availability of osteopathy in the NHS, an exploratory mixed method study into some of the underlying factors influencing the decisions of GPs and osteopaths.
Item
- Title
- The availability of osteopathy in the NHS, an exploratory mixed method study into some of the underlying factors influencing the decisions of GPs and osteopaths.
- Author(s)
- Perdios, R
- Abstract
- Objectives: To investigate some of the underlying perceptions held by Osteopaths and General Practitioners (GPs) surrounding the issue of the availability of Osteopathic Treatment on the National Health Service (NHS). Design: Mixed mode study involving a postal questionnaire to GPs in the West Kent Primary Care Trust and qualitative semi structured interviews with I I Osteopaths in the South East Setting: GPs in the West Kent Primary Care Trust and Osteopaths in Osteopathic clinics in the South East of England. Participants: Eighty three General Practitioners who responded to questionnaires sent out to 205 GPs in the West Kent Primary Care Trust, Eleven Osteopaths, with either previous or current experience of working in or alongside the NHS. Main outcome measures: Identifiable themes that may indicate barriers to the availability of Osteopathic treatment on the NHS and suggesting areas for further research, Results: This study suggests that several factors influence the various parties involved in making Osteopathy available within the NHS Osteopaths who have worked within the NHS generally found it a positive experience over all, Osteopaths who tried and failed to work within the NHS highlighted a lack of knowledge both on the part of Osteopaths and GPs as being one factor in the lack of availability of Osteopathy on the NHS. Some expressed a perception of the way GPs may view Osteopathy in a negative light which contrasted with GPs answers to questionnaires, GPs were not generally negative about Osteopathy as a referred treatment for Low Back Pain although some expressed a lack of awareness of any Osteopaths locally to refer to. Several of the Osteopaths interviewed highlighted the difficulties they had encountered in trying to register as willing providers for NHS work Within the limited numbers of the study there appeared to be a strong association between those GPs who had had personal experience of Osteopathic treatment and referral patterns of patients for Osteopathic treatment.Conclusion In the light of these findings it may be that the Osteopathic profession needs to increase awareness and education of possible future pathways into the NHS and cultivate better relationships and communication with GPs, if there is to be a future for Osteopathy within the NHS. Offering treatment to health care professionals and GPs may be an effective way of educating them about Osteopathy and what it has to offer. In the light of recent health reforms and major changes in the structure and commissioning of the NHS, more research is needed into what further barriers exist for those who wish to integrate. The health reforms may offer new opportunities for the development of the profile of Osteopathy in a wider context but only by continuing to pursue more understanding of how each medical model functions will these opportunities be realized This will enable more people to experience the health benefitsof an established clinical treatment on the NHS.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 22.1.2013 16:23:36
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15295
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- GP, Osteopath
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Perdios, R, “The availability of osteopathy in the NHS, an exploratory mixed method study into some of the underlying factors influencing the decisions of GPs and osteopaths.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 17, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/770