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  • Osteopathy research priorities

Osteopathy research priorities

This is a Delphi study to identify research priorities for osteopathy. There is an increasing emphasis to take an evidence-based approach to healthcare. To obtain evidence relevant to the osteopathic profession a clear research direction is required based on the views of stakeholders in the osteopathic profession. A modified Delphi consensus approach was conducted to explore the views of osteopaths and patients regarding research priorities for osteopathy. This was a collaborative project between Moore (University of Brighton) Carnes and Fawkes (NCOR) and Ruston (University of Birmingham).

Osteopaths and patients were invited to complete an online questionnaire survey (n = 145). Round 1 requested up to 10 research priority areas and the rationale for their selection. All of the themes from Round 1 were fed back verbatim, and in Round 2 participants were asked to rank the importance of the research priorities on a 5-point Likert scale. Finally, in Round 3 participants were asked to rank the importance of a refined list of research topics which had reached consensus. Descriptive analysis and use of Kendall's coefficient of concordance enabled interpretation of consensus.

Project objectives

The aims of the project were

  • to identify research priorities for the osteopathic profession including the most important areas of practice requiring evidence
  • to influence and be informed by a variety of stakeholders including those involved in osteopathic education, the profession’s regulator, members of the professional association, practitioners in special interest groups, funders, patient representatives, and the Department of Health
  • to support and influence the Osteopathic Educational Foundation to direct funding that has value to the osteopathic profession and patients attending for osteopathic care
  • to map priorities to government priorities and research funding bodies

Project outcomes

The response rate for Round 1 was 87.9% and identified 610 research priority areas. Round 2 identified 69 research themes as important, and Round 3 identified 20 research priority topic areas covering four themes: effectiveness of osteopathic treatment (seven areas prioritised), role of osteopathy: the management of four conditions were prioritised, risks with osteopathic treatment (two areas prioritised) and outcomes of osteopathic treatment (two areas prioritised).

Impact/Priorities

In order to make this type of study meaningful it is important to identify a strategy for action and then put it into practice. Since this study was begun, a number of initiatives have taken place to try and enhance wider dissemination and accessibility of research findings. The development of a new website for NCOR has focussed on making more resources including the priorities widely and continually available to osteopaths. The acquisition by the General Osteopathic Council of access to a larger number of journals from Elsevier has also given osteopaths the ability to read research from a wider range of professional groups, encompassing a broader range of topics.

This Delphi study has also identified a number of practical issues which can be addressed across the profession in terms of making research more accessible, but also more comprehensible to osteopaths who began their training some years ago when research education was not part of the curriculum delivered. The focus of the osteopathic profession’s activity based on the Delphi findings will be on reviewing strategies for dissemination of research findings to the osteopathic profession, and to undergraduates in training where significant research already exists, and identifying funding streams for the remaining research priority areas and being responsive to these as they are announced.

Research team

Professor Ann Moore

Dr Alison Rushton (University of Birmingham)

Fawkes C (Research Officer NCOR, Barts and the London)

Carnes D (Chair of NCOR, Barts and the London) 

Output

Rushton AB, Fawkes CA, Carnes D, Moore AP.  A modified Delphi consensus study to identify UK osteopathic profession research priorities.  Man Ther. 2014 May 9. pii: S1356-689X(14)00078-2. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2014.04.013. [Epub ahead of print]  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24855956

Partners

Professor Ann Moore

Dr Alison Rushton (University of Birmingham)

Fawkes C (Research Officer NCOR, Barts and the London)

Carnes D (Chair of NCOR, Barts and the London) 

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