"If you don't use or understand visceral osteopathy you're not a real osteopath": Professional identity in Australian osteopathy through the lens of a single traditional technique.
Osteopathy
qualitative
qualitative research
visceral osteopathy
Journal
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1878-7541
Titre abrégé: Explore (NY)
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101233160
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
23
03
2020
revised:
06
07
2020
accepted:
07
07
2020
pubmed:
2
8
2020
medline:
22
3
2022
entrez:
2
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Manual therapists utilise a range of techniques in the clinical practice to manage predominantly musculoskeletal complaints. There are, however, a number of practitioners who utilise techniques that are directed towards the bodies' visceral structures. Osteopaths are one such professional group that utilise these techniques in their practice. Like many health professions, the identity of the osteopathy profession is evolving, and the techniques osteopaths use form part of this identity. Explore free text responses to a questionnaire about the use of techniques directed towards the viscera. Australian osteopaths who were part of a practice-based research network, were invited to complete a survey about their use of techniques applied to the viscera. Participants were also invited to provide free-text responses to a number of items related to the use of these techniques. Free-text responses were thematically analysed. 137 participants completed the survey. Three themes were identified: being an osteopath; applying visceral techniques in practice - evidence conflicts with practice; and, inadequate education in visceral techniques. Participant responses resonated with the internal (own world views, beliefs) and external (external perceptions of the profession, education) influences that underpin the theory of a professions' identity. Our work demonstrates that the Australian osteopathy profession exhibits an identity similar to other manual therapies - the profession is somewhat fragmented in its views about its practice. Additional research is required to explore whether other manual therapy techniques used by osteopaths elicit similar responses and how those external to the profession perceive it.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
BACKGROUND
Manual therapists utilise a range of techniques in the clinical practice to manage predominantly musculoskeletal complaints. There are, however, a number of practitioners who utilise techniques that are directed towards the bodies' visceral structures. Osteopaths are one such professional group that utilise these techniques in their practice. Like many health professions, the identity of the osteopathy profession is evolving, and the techniques osteopaths use form part of this identity.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
Explore free text responses to a questionnaire about the use of techniques directed towards the viscera.
METHODS/DESIGN
METHODS
Australian osteopaths who were part of a practice-based research network, were invited to complete a survey about their use of techniques applied to the viscera. Participants were also invited to provide free-text responses to a number of items related to the use of these techniques. Free-text responses were thematically analysed.
PARTICIPANTS
METHODS
137 participants completed the survey.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Three themes were identified: being an osteopath; applying visceral techniques in practice - evidence conflicts with practice; and, inadequate education in visceral techniques.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Participant responses resonated with the internal (own world views, beliefs) and external (external perceptions of the profession, education) influences that underpin the theory of a professions' identity. Our work demonstrates that the Australian osteopathy profession exhibits an identity similar to other manual therapies - the profession is somewhat fragmented in its views about its practice. Additional research is required to explore whether other manual therapy techniques used by osteopaths elicit similar responses and how those external to the profession perceive it.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32736952
pii: S1550-8307(20)30219-6
doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.07.001
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
535-540Informations de copyright
Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest None declared.