Journal article
Establishing international expert consensus on core competencies and best practices in osteopathic education: a modified Delphi study protocol
BMJ open, Vol.16(7), pp.1-8
30/07/2026
PMID: 42532563
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Background: Osteopathic education is typically delivered through accredited higher education institutions with curricula not only varying widely but also inconsistently aligned with contemporary evidence. This lack of standardisation creates challenges in accreditation, workforce mobility and public understanding of the osteopathic role.
Objective: The objective of this study aims to develop international expert consensus on core osteopathic capabilities through a structured Delphi process.
Methods and analysis: This protocol describes a three-round modified Delphi study involving international experts in osteopathic education. Participants will be purposively recruited from accredited osteopathic education programmes and professional networks and must have at least 5 years' experience in osteopathic education, curriculum development or clinical supervision. A target sample of 40-60 experts will be sought. In round 1, participants will respond to open-ended questions exploring core competencies and educational priorities. Responses will be independently coded by two members of the research team using thematic analysis before being synthesised into consensus statements through investigator agreement. Rounds 2 and 3 will involve structured rating of these statements using a 4-point Likert scale with optional free-text comments to refine wording where appropriate. Descriptive statistics will be used to determine consensus, assess stability between rounds and guide item retention.
Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the RMIT University Human Research Ethics Committee, Australia (2025-29731-30793). Participation is voluntary and pseudo-anonymous, with informed consent obtained electronically. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and to professional bodies to support curriculum alignment, accreditation processes and international dialogue on capability development.
Details
- Title
- Establishing international expert consensus on core competencies and best practices in osteopathic education: a modified Delphi study protocol
- Creators
- Kesava Kovanur Sampath - RMIT UniversityRoger Engel - Macquarie UniversityDamian Keter - United States Department of Veteran Affairs (USA, Ohio))
- Publication Details
- BMJ open, Vol.16(7), pp.1-8
- Publisher
- BMJ Group
- Identifiers
- 991013392545702368
- Copyright
- © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article