Osteopathic Research Web

UK based osteopaths’ knowledge of eating disorders and attitudes towards their management - A questionnaire study

Item

Title

UK based osteopaths’ knowledge of eating disorders and attitudes towards their management - A questionnaire study

Author(s)

Vanden Dael, N

Abstract

Background: DSM-5 EDs have a relatively high prevalence, and increased mortality and comorbidity rates. Early detection and management are essential to improve patient recovery, thus research in ED-MHL is warranted to enhance detection rates. However, few studies have investigated the literacy levels of allied healthcare professionals. To date, the ED-MHL of osteopaths has not been explored despite their potential exposure to ED individuals and role in safeguarding and public health. Objective: To investigate the ED-MHL of osteopaths and the factors influencing their knowledge and attitudes towards detection and management Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. Methods: The bespoke questionnaire was distributed to 2792 GOsC registered osteopaths. It captured baseline characteristics and eight ED-MHL items based on a fictional subthreshold BN case. X² was used to determine associations between participant characteristics and portrayed attitudes (significance p<0.05), followed by X² post-hoc tests. Results: 330 respondents (12.59%) completed the questionnaire. The sample included a majority of females, 50-years-old and participants with professional and/or personal experience with EDs. Overall ED detection rate was low (36.67%).Findings indicated an association between gender and issue detection (p=0.0017). Osteopaths without professional ED experience were more likely to correctly identify an ED (p=0.0443). Lastly, there was an association between gender and perception of the most useful person (p=0.0027), the most useful intervention (p=0.0421), severity (p=0.0239) and prognosis without appropriate treatment (p=0.0082).Discussion: Similarly to other non-specialist clinicians, a substantial proportion of osteopaths failed to detect a general ED. Participants displayed moderate guidelines compliance regarding management, however, some endorsed controverted physical and alternative therapies, hence warranting further research in this field. Unlike the commonly depicted stigma, most osteopaths recognised the severity and pathological nature of EDs. Attitudes towards prognosis showed consistency with the literature. Influential characteristics included previous ED experience and mainly gender, thus suggesting inferior ED-MHL in males. Conclusion: The current study generates a novel representation of UK based osteopaths’ ED-MHL. Results suggest poor knowledge and detection of EDs, partially evidence-based attitudes towards management, and non-stigmatising perceptions of EDs. In light of these findings, there is a requirement for increased ED-related promotion for osteopaths, particularly targeting males, to facilitate detection and patient health outcomes. Future research should explore the role of osteopathy in the continuum of care for ED individuals.

presented at

European School of Osteopathy

Date Accepted

2020

Date Submitted

28.10.2020 18:08:19

Type

osteo_thesis

Language

English

Submitted by:

62

Pub-Identifier

16698

Inst-Identifier

1229

Keywords

Complementary Therapies, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Health Literacy, Public Health.

Recommended

0

Item sets

Thesis

Vanden Dael, N, “UK based osteopaths’ knowledge of eating disorders and attitudes towards their management - A questionnaire study”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/905