Osteopathic Research Web

Exploring the identity of the osteopaths in Spain. A survey study

Item

Title

Exploring the identity of the osteopaths in Spain. A survey study

Author(s)

Villar, J

Abstract

Introduction: There is a lack of the osteopathic profession's knowledge of itself in Spain, particularly considering the rapid evolution and number of changes that happened over the last ten years within the profession. In terms of currency and coherence of the osteopathic professional identity, lack of data can become an issue in arguing topics such as professional regulation, the search for autonomy from other health professions or the foundations upon which to build the future of the profession. The present research provides a current attempt to describe and analyse the situation of osteopathy in Spain by looking at the Spanish osteopaths themselves, their characteristics of practice and their beliefs about osteopathy. Method: A questionnaire was sent out to 254 Spanish osteopaths registered in the ROE via an Internet survey website. A total of 134 responses were received fully completed and useable. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data. Seventy two per cent of respondents were male. The average age is 37 years old with only 13% of respondents being younger than 30 years old. The majority of osteopaths work in Catalunya (57%) and have been working as osteopaths for the last 5 years (51%). There is an important heterogeneity among undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. The majority of respondents, are previously qualified physiotherapists (73%) and have studied osteopathy as a part-time course in the ECO (38%) over 6 years. The most frequently used osteopathic model is the "musculoskeletal model" ("very often: 48%) and the majority of respondents shows a strong confidence in the capability of osteopathy to deal with musculoskeletal complaints. That confidence decreases significantly with non- musculoskeletal complaints. Sixty six per cent of respondents assist to CPD courses "frequently . Sixty eight per cent of respondents consider osteopathy as a complementary healthcare system and 93% think that it should be recognized as an independent system and regulated by law (99%). The majority of respondents see between 20 and 40 patients per week (52%) and only 52% do not use any methods other than osteopathy during the treatment session. The first consultation length usually ranges from 46 to 54 minutes. Most of the patients who self-refer, go to the osteopath as a first option without having seen any other health care practitioner (45%). Case history (89%), observation (71%), palpation (91%) and active/passive mobility (67%) are the most commonly used methods of diagnosis. Visceral (68%), mobilization (56%), cranial (50%), HVTs (44%) and GOT (33%) are the most commonly techniques of choice. Exercise is given as advice "very often" (61%). The number of patients referred from other manual therapists is the most significant one (54% "often" or "very often") while the referrals from conventional medicine professionals are quite low (13% "very often"). The Fisher's Exact test was used to look for associations between: additional training and definition of osteopathy by osteopaths, frequency of participation in CPD courses and opinion about independency of osteopathy, definition of osteopathy according to the Spanish osteopaths and their opinion on legal regulation of osteopathy, the frequency Spanish osteopaths do CPD courses and the number of years they have been in practice, the additional training and the percentage of time per session where Spanish osteopaths use knowledge coming from disciplines other than osteopathy. Significant association was found between the frequency Spanish osteopaths do CPD courses and the number of years they have been in practice (p value < 0.05). Conc[Usions: Through the characteristics, opinions and beliefs from the Spanish osteopaths; it is possible to describe the early stage of development of osteopathy in Spain. There are however enough signs of maturation in the profession to look forward to further steps in its establishment. There is enough congruence and coherence among the Spanish osteopaths to identify a unique and distinct professional identity Keywords: "osteopathy', "identi "characteristics of practice "prohle" "survey "questionnaire "complementaly and altemative therapy"

presented at

European School of Osteopathy

Date Accepted

2012

Date Submitted

22.1.2013 16:23:35

Type

osteo_thesis

Language

English

Submitted by:

62

Pub-Identifier

15247

Inst-Identifier

1229

Keywords

Osteopathy in Spain. Training, Education

Recommended

0

Item sets

Thesis

Villar, J, “Exploring the identity of the osteopaths in Spain. A survey study”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/818