What influences an LSO patient’s decision to use osteopathy and CAM therapies?

Sylvia Kahl                                                                                                 Supervisor: Stiofan MacSuibhne

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients are increasingly turning to osteopathy and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and in order to benefit from this trend, it would be useful to identify what influences their decisions to use different modalities of treatment.

METHODS: A survey was conducted using patients from the London School of Osteopathy (LSO) clinic to identify why they choose to use osteopathy and other complementary modalities. Other characteristics identified were gender, socioeconomic class, availability of osteopathy and/or CAM at GP and primary care centres, and what level of demand there is. Finally, questions were asked about the source of information and influence in using both osteopathy and CAM.

RESULTS: By far the biggest influence on patient choice and source of information was friends and family, word of mouth and personal recommendation. 85% of patients at the LSO clinic had used some form of CAM, and 95% would like CAM services to be provided by their GP – 93% would like to have osteopathy made available. Further studies in this area may provide useful marketing information.