Evaluating perspectives, knowledge and behaviors of osteopathic medicine in a United States osteopathic medical school: A study in employee education and changes in understanding

Background

The institutional culture where students complete training may significantly impact their professional identity and practice habits related to osteopathic medicine principles and the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). This is the first study to evaluate institutional culture, perspectives, knowledge, behaviors, and the effect of an educational intervention among an institution's employees surrounding the principles of osteopathic medicine.

Objective

To explore the impact of a standardized educational intervention in osteopathic medicine for employees in promoting greater integration of osteopathic principles and practice into our institutional culture at a single multi-campus institution..

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess osteopathic knowledge, perspectives, and behaviors through two surveys provided before and 6 months after an educational intervention. The educational intervention consisted of 7 online, asynchronous modules. A baseline (PRE) survey and 6-month follow-up (POST) were treated as independent samples, as not all study respondents participated in the educational intervention. Contingency tables were generated for the preliminary data set to assess the relationships among survey responses. Chi-square tests were conducted to test relationships and Fisher Exact Tests employed when assumptions for the chi-square test were not met. Analyses of variance and independent t-tests were conducted to evaluate score differences across different employment categories and backgrounds.

Results

All employees were invited to participate in the study, 96/370 (25.9 %) completed the PRE and 94/370 (25.4 %) completed the POST surveys. In the POST survey, 45/94 (47.9 %) of respondents indicated they participated in the educational modules. After the training, a greater number of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they understand the fundamentals of OPP [PRE: 80/95 (84.2 %); POST: 88/92 (95.7 %); P = 0.01] and the origins and history of osteopathic medicine in the United States [PRE: 62/94 (66 %); POST: 79/92 (85.9 %); P = 0.003]. Within the administrators/staff category, significantly more had experienced OMT at the end of the study [PRE: 38/48 (79.2 %); POST: 45/48 (93.8 %); P = 0.04]. There were significantly more participants who correctly identified body systems impacted by OMT [PRE: 68/96 (70.8 %); POST: 79/93 (84.9 %); P = 0.01]. Faculty planned to integrate osteopathic principles into their teaching [37/40 (92.5 %)] and written exam items [25/40 (62.5 %)] in the future. Finally, employee participants in the training [50/51 (98 %)] reported an impact on their confidence in discussing Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) with others, and believed the training increased their awareness of OPP in their work [46/51 (90 %)].

Conclusions

An educational intervention positively impacted employees’ perspectives, knowledge, and behaviors related to OPP at a multi-campus, osteopathic institution. Enhanced engagement with institutional osteopathic culture fosters an informed workforce, and may influence student engagement with OPP in their future practice.

Implications for educational practice

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  An educational intervention in osteopathic principles positively impacts the perspectives, knowledge, and behaviors of employees of an osteopathic institution in relation to Osteopathic Principles and Practice.
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  Providing focused training in osteopathic principles to employees may result in fewer misunderstandings within osteopathic organizations.
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  Employees trained in osteopathic principles may provide more consistent public messaging, enhancing public awareness about the osteopathic medical profession.
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  Institutions who seek to increase employee knowledge about osteopathic principles may influence student engagement with osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment, furthering the distinctiveness of osteopathic medical practice.