Evaluating the Effectiveness of Teaching Osteopathy in a Combined Didactics Setting

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of teaching Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and Principles and Practice (OPP) at a combined didactic conference having both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) family medicine residents.

Methods: A self-administered pre/post-conference survey was distributed to 58 family medicine residents. Using a Likert-type scale, constructs measured included: the likelihood of using OMT on patients, the impact of session content, and confidence in medical knowledge of the topics presented. Demographic data was included (ie MD/DO status). The comparison of pre/post survey responses were performed for each question using the chi-square test, except when the sample size was small, where Fisher’s exact tests were used. The p-value was set at 0.05.

Results: A total of 33 (66%) residents completed both pre/post-conference surveys. Enthusiasm towards OMT as a mode of treatment was high at baseline among residents. For PGY1s, the injection therapies session was most impactful (52.8%). For PGY2s & 3s, the Short Leg Syndrome lecture was most valuable (65.3%). MD/DO residents showed statistical significance in improving confidence in the Short Leg Syndrome Session (p = 0.013) and Shoulder Injection (p = 0.012). MDs showed a statistically significant increase in confidence for the treatment of Head and Neck Conditions (p = 0.0485).

Conclusion: ACGME unification will challenge programs pursuing osteopathic recognition to achieve a balance between on-boarding MDs and providing content for furthering the training of DOs. This study indicates MDs have moderate interest in learning OMM/OPP in a combined didactics setting and promotes further research in this area.