A qualitative study of osteopaths’ opinions about maintenance treatment.
Item
- Title
- A qualitative study of osteopaths’ opinions about maintenance treatment.
- Title
- A qualitative study of osteopaths’ opinions about maintenance treatment.
- Author(s)
- Tamkin Rebecca
- Abstract
- Background: The management of chronic musculoskeletal pain is important due to its impact on both the individual and the economy (Chief Medical Officers, 2009, cited by Watson, p. 2; Veale et al., 2008). The efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain has been supported by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) and the UK Back Pain, Exercise and Manipulation trials (UK BEAM, 2004). However, there is little knowledge of actual clinical practice. Objective: This study investigated the use of ‘Maintenance Treatment’ (MT) by osteopaths, exploring their perceptions of maintenance and their clinical reasoning. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a convenience sample of 9 osteopaths. Data was analysed using Content Analysis, consistent with elements of Grounded Theory (Miles and Huberman, 1994). Results: Two types of MT were identified; ‘Patient Guided’ and ‘Practitioner Guided’. Analysis of clinical reasoning identified how osteopaths decided whether a patient was appropriate or inappropriate for MT, and which type of MT should be offered. Factors affecting clinical decision making included pain presentations, patient’s emotional well-being, personalities, and their wants from treatment. From the analysis of osteopathic decision making a user friendly algorithm was developed, similar to those used by NHS medics produced by NICE guidelines (www.nice.org.uk). Conclusion: This study has added to understanding about how osteopaths use MT to support patients with chronic pain by identifying distinct clinical reasoning strategies which underpin decisions in practice. Further research to validate the findings of this small qualitative study is needed to assess their generalisability to a larger osteopathic population. The algorithm could be applied to clinical practice to support other osteopaths in the decision to offer MT to chronic pain sufferers and guide them during the course of MT. Pilot testing of the algorithm would determine its applicability to clinical practice.
- Abstract
- Background: The management of chronic musculoskeletal pain is important due to its impact on both the individual and the economy (Chief Medical Officers, 2009, cited by Watson, p. 2; Veale et al., 2008). The efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain has been supported by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) and the UK Back Pain, Exercise and Manipulation trials (UK BEAM, 2004). However, there is little knowledge of actual clinical practice. Objective: This study investigated the use of ‘Maintenance Treatment’ (MT) by osteopaths, exploring their perceptions of maintenance and their clinical reasoning. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted on a convenience sample of 9 osteopaths. Data was analysed using Content Analysis, consistent with elements of Grounded Theory (Miles and Huberman, 1994). Results: Two types of MT were identified; ‘Patient Guided’ and ‘Practitioner Guided’. Analysis of clinical reasoning identified how osteopaths decided whether a patient was appropriate or inappropriate for MT, and which type of MT should be offered. Factors affecting clinical decision making included pain presentations, patient’s emotional well-being, personalities, and their wants from treatment. From the analysis of osteopathic decision making a user friendly algorithm was developed, similar to those used by NHS medics produced by NICE guidelines (www.nice.org.uk). Conclusion: This study has added to understanding about how osteopaths use MT to support patients with chronic pain by identifying distinct clinical reasoning strategies which underpin decisions in practice. Further research to validate the findings of this small qualitative study is needed to assess their generalisability to a larger osteopathic population. The algorithm could be applied to clinical practice to support other osteopaths in the decision to offer MT to chronic pain sufferers and guide them during the course of MT. Pilot testing of the algorithm would determine its applicability to clinical practice.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15108
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Maintenance treatment, Manual therapy, Osteopathy, Chronic pain, Chronic illness, Palliative treatment, Patient management, Treatment outcomes
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Tamkin Rebecca, “A qualitative study of osteopaths’ opinions about maintenance treatment.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/1732