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Wie kommen sie eigentlich zu uns? Eine quantitative Sozialstudie über die Wege, wie Patienten zu osteopathischen Behandlungen kommen
How do they end up coming to us? A quantitative social study of the journeys people take to get to osteopathy treatment

Journal: Unpublished MSc thesis Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, Date: 2007/03, Pages: 101, type of study: cross sectional study

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/2979)

Keywords:

professional-patient relations [4]
osteopathic patients [1]
cross sectional study [597]
WSO [433]

Abstract:

Purpose: Frequently, patients arrive at osteopathy treatment on the recommendation of a friend only after enduring a long history of suffering. Others, however, immediately turn to an osteopath with all of their health problems. Consequently the different routes which lead a patient to osteopathy should be investigated. The main objectives of this paper are to illustrate the healthcare network surrounding patients who come to osteopathy and to research the current situation from the perspective of the patient. Key Question: “What brings the patient to an osteopathy practice?” Other Questions: Which health problems cause a patient to seek out osteopathy? Who was the first port of call for his problem? Which therapies had he already undergone and how did they work? Through which sources of information did the patient hear of osteopathy? What emotions accompanied the patient on his journey? Relevance: Insights into these journeys should help to improve cooperation with others involved in the patient’s healing process. Hypotheses: The majority of patients seem to come to osteopathy treatment on the recommendation of friends or relatives to see a specific osteopath rather than to try osteopathy generally. Methodology: As part of a quantitative social study, patients were interviewed in writing by means of questionnaires distributed in osteopathy practices in Vienna. Two questionnaires were used, one for adult patients and one for parents who had brought their children for osteopathy treatment. In total 285 questionnaires were analysed. Findings: The hypothesis that most patients came to osteopathy through the recommendation of friends or relatives was proven. The assumption that patients were referred to a specific osteopath rather than to osteopathy generally was also validated. Numerous patients turn directly to osteopaths with their health problems, especially parents on behalf of their children. The adult patients’ problems were predominantly chronic pain, whereas children mostly came for a medical check-up following a difficult birth. It has been established that GPs and paediatricians are the preferred first places to go but only in few cases did they refer patients for osteopathy treatment. Other medical specialists and non-medical healthcare professionals make referrals relatively more often. The most effective previous therapies for adults were active therapies. For children the combination of osteopathy and homeopathy appears to be particularly beneficial. Conclusions: It would be of benefit to increase cooperation with the first places patients visit. The importance of clinical competency, especially in the area of paediatrics, is significant because of the large number of patients who turn to osteopathy in the first place.


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