Communicating risks of treatment to patients in osteopathic practice: NCOR project 2

Patient safety is a priority for responsible healthcare professionals, as it is for Government, healthcare providers and regulators. This project was initiated to provide guidance to osteopaths on good practice relating to communicating to patients about any risks of treatment.

This study is one of four pieces of work commissioned by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and developed and coordinated by the National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) relating to adverse events associated with osteopathic care. The ‘Adverse Events’ projects were funded by the General Osteopathic Council, the statutory regulator, in the interests of patient safety. The right of patients to be informed of any known risks associated with the proposed interventions, before consenting to care, is specified in the GOsC Code of Practice for osteopaths.

Project objective

The purpose of the project was to draw together existing knowledge about communicating risk within a healthcare consultation, in order to assist osteopaths in practice and to inform practitioner guidelines for communicating the risks of osteopathic treatment.

The study aimed to address three research questions:

  • What are the most effective ways of communicating risk of adverse effects to patients in the context of osteopathic practice?
  • What constitutes good practice when seeking informed consent from patients for osteopathic care?
  • What should osteopaths be aware of in order to understand clinical risk effectively?

The evidence was gathered through a wide-ranging literature review and narrative synthesis of the findings, drawing out the points of particular relevance for osteopathic practice. Some information material on risks and benefits in osteopathic practice was drafted, based on the recommendations in the literature. This was pilot tested in two focus groups of osteopaths and osteopathic patients.

Project impact

The aim of this study was to provide guidance to osteopaths on good practice relating to communicating with patients about any risks of treatment. A wide-ranging literature review provided initial evidence and points of particular relevance for osteopathic practice were drawn out.

Some information material on risks and benefits in osteopathic practice was drafted, based on the recommendations in the literature, and this was piloted in two focus groups of osteopaths and osteopathic patients. The resulting report includes the results of the focus group pilots and each chapter of the report concludes with key messages for osteopaths. It can be downloaded here

Research team

Janine Leach, University of Brighton Principal Investigator

Anne Mandy, University of Brighton Senior Management

Matthew Hankins, Brighton and Sussex Medical School Review methodology and research in communicating risk

Rachel Ives, College of Osteopaths (assisted by Julie Thompson) Professional Education

Vinette Cross, University of Brighton Practice based education research and adult learning

Mark Cage, University of Brighton Language and Communication

Kevin Lucas, University of Brighton Systematic reviewing 

Steering Group

Tim McClune, Osteopath and former Member of the GOsC Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) (representing NCOR grants committee)

Bernadette Ranger, Admissions Officer, European School of Osteopathy (representing Service Users)

David Balen, Director of Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers, a provider of professional indemnity cover for osteopaths

Asgar Hassanali, Executive Director, Lockton Affinity, a provider of professional indemnity cover for osteopaths (from September 2008) 

Advisors

Paul Grant, Solicitor and Osteopath, BSG Solicitors, London (representing solicitors who represent osteopaths or complainants in court)

Professor Julie Stone, Barrister, consultant on regulatory, legal, and ethical issues to the healthcare sector

Catherine Goodyear, Business Manager, British Osteopathic Association (BOA) (representing the osteopathic professional association)

Output

Full project report (PDF)

Partners