An exploration of osteopaths' beliefs concerning the concept of 'vitality'.
Item
- Title
- An exploration of osteopaths' beliefs concerning the concept of 'vitality'.
- Title
- An exploration of osteopaths' beliefs concerning the concept of 'vitality'.
- Author(s)
- O’Brien Ronan
- Abstract
- Background: Although the concept of vitality is frequently referred to in osteopathic texts, there is little research on the meaning and beliefs osteopaths associate with it. Is it a useful concept in danger of being lost? Using qualitative methodology, this study explored the meaning behind the concept of vitality in osteopathy and the beliefs associated with it. Objectives: To explore what some osteopaths mean by the term 'vitality' and their associated beliefs. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was under taken. Eight semi-structured interviews with eight UK registered practising osteopaths of varying experience and educational backgrounds were conducted with a purposive sample. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Content Analysis consistent with elements of Grounded Theory. Emergent themes were conceptually coded. Results: Four themes emerged from which two models were extracted representing extreme positions labelled “alternative osteopathy” and “orthodox osteopathy”. Conclusion: Models have been derived that may explain attitudes towards the term vitality. Further work is needed to test if these models are valid and to identify how this informs practice.
- Abstract
- Background: Although the concept of vitality is frequently referred to in osteopathic texts, there is little research on the meaning and beliefs osteopaths associate with it. Is it a useful concept in danger of being lost? Using qualitative methodology, this study explored the meaning behind the concept of vitality in osteopathy and the beliefs associated with it. Objectives: To explore what some osteopaths mean by the term 'vitality' and their associated beliefs. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was under taken. Eight semi-structured interviews with eight UK registered practising osteopaths of varying experience and educational backgrounds were conducted with a purposive sample. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Content Analysis consistent with elements of Grounded Theory. Emergent themes were conceptually coded. Results: Four themes emerged from which two models were extracted representing extreme positions labelled “alternative osteopathy” and “orthodox osteopathy”. Conclusion: Models have been derived that may explain attitudes towards the term vitality. Further work is needed to test if these models are valid and to identify how this informs 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
- 15088
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Osteopathy, vitality, vitalism, beliefs, philosophy
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
O’Brien Ronan, “An exploration of osteopaths' beliefs concerning the concept of 'vitality'.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/1750