A study looking at the role of nutrition within the osteopathic profession
Tracy Elroy
Supervisor: Derrick Edwards
Abstract: Nutrition has been shown to have a major role in health and disease. In line with current “draft benchmark statements” for osteopaths with the inclusion of “understand the principles of diet and dietetics” based on this new development within osteopathy this study explores the following:
· Whether osteopaths use nutritional intervention as part of their daily practice
· Whether osteopaths consider nutritional intervention fundamental to osteopathic healthcare
· Whether osteopaths consider that their undergraduate education have trained/prepared them in the use of nutritional intervention
· However, if osteopaths do not give nutritional advice, whom do they refer their patients to?
Design: questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was devised for the study the aim of ascertaining the above information.
Subjects: 180 systematically selected registered osteopaths
Results: This study found that 66% of total respondents (osteopaths n=86) agreed that nutrition is a fundamental part of osteopathic healthcare. 58% of osteopaths were using nutritional intervention as part of their daily practice, 65% recalled specific guidance using nutritional intervention at college, 42% recall clinic tutors using nutritional intervention. It was also found 59% did not feel confident in giving nutritional advice within their practise. In addition 78% of respondents were not aware of the current draft subject benchmark statements regarding “principles of diet and dietetics” and S2K
Conclusion: The researcher found that at present there is limited research regarding aspects of health promotion and nutrition, within the osteopathic profession. It is hoped that this study can be used as a stepping stone for further research into the benefits of applying nutritional advice within osteopathic treatments as outlined in the BMS and S2K guidelines for health promotion
