Profiling osteopathic practice in the UK using standardised data collection

Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing interest is being shown in osteopathy on a national and international basis. Little prospective data are available concerning the day-to-day practice of the profession. To address this issue, a standardised data collection tool was developed for osteopathy. MethodsThe standardised data collection (SDC) tool underwent national piloting between April and July 2009 in United Kingdom private practices. Osteopaths volunteered to participate and recruited patients on whom to record data for a period of one month. This was followed by a follow-up period of two more months. ResultsA total of 1630 completed datasets from the SDC pilot were analysed by the project team. The SDC tool performed extremely well, and generated meaningful data. Lumbar symptoms were the most common (36%), followed by cervical spine (15%), sacroiliac/pelvic/groin (7.9%), head/facial area (7%), shoulder (6.8%), and thoracic spine (6%). Additional symptoms were recorded in 2.9% of patients. A total of 48.8% of patients reported co-morbidities, the most common being hypertension (11.7%), followed by asthma (6.6%), and arthritis (5.7%). Outcome data were collected looking at the patients' response to treatment, and any form of treatment reactions. ConclusionThe primary aim of the project was to create and test a standardised data collection tool for osteopathy. A small number of issues were highlighted during the project identifying where further refinement was required. The development of an electronic format, and a short form version for daily practitioner use would be welcome.