Journal article
‘Thrown at twins’ - A qualitative study exploring the lived experience of Australian osteopaths who regularly treat paediatric patients
Complementary therapies in clinical practice, Vol.57, 101897
11/2024
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Abstract
Background and purpose: Little is known about the training and experience of osteopaths who treat paediatric patients, and graduates report feeling unprepared for this aspect of practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experience of Australian osteopaths who regularly treat these patients, in order to better understand their individual educational pathways and their management of this population.
Materials and methods
Osteopaths who reported regularly treating paediatric patients were recruited through the Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION) national practice-based network. Semi-structured interviews were completed, transcribed and thematically analysed using the principles of Descriptive Phenomenology to compile qualitative data.
Results
Ten osteopaths were interviewed, whose age ranged from 33 to 71 years and with 15–46 years of clinical experience. Proportion of paediatric patients ranged from 20 to 90 % of participants’ caseload according to self-report. Seven themes were identified that reflected the lived experience of treating paediatric patients: 1) Variable pathways to practice, 2) Challenges and rewards, 3) Scope of practice, 4) Team-based care, 5) Importance of entry-level skills, 6) Family-centred care, and 7) Success.
Conclusion
The study found a diversity of educational pathways, that paediatric practice was highly rewarding, the scope of practice was based on diagnostic skills and experience, the practitioners had extensive team-based professional networks, practice reflected a family-centred care model, and personal measures of success were multifactorial. These results give insight into this area of practice to guide further research.
Details
- Title
- ‘Thrown at twins’ - A qualitative study exploring the lived experience of Australian osteopaths who regularly treat paediatric patients
- Creators
- John Carr - Southern Cross UniversityTayla Lane - Southern Cross UniversityJoshua Naylor - Southern Cross UniversityPaul Orrock - Southern Cross UniversityKirstine Shrubsole - The University of QueenslandBrett Vaughan - The University of MelbourneEmily Jones - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Complementary therapies in clinical practice, Vol.57, 101897
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013217513502368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article