Is Holism Practised in the Osteopath’s Clinic? A study examining the inclusion of holistic markers in diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning of registered osteopaths.

Michael Pearce                                                                                                         Supervisor: Frank Vincent

Abstract

The aim of this is study is to question the current holistic standing of the discipline of osteopathy in the 21st century. There is, perhaps, a practical necessity to reduce a patient down to their tissue causing the symptoms. However, to treat osteopathically the patient needs re-integrating, with the presenting complaint understood as part of the whole, predisposed and maintained by altered biomechanics and psychosocial aspects. This study looks at the frequency of psychosocial factors and environmental aspects in the clinical reasoning of osteopaths leading to diagnosis and treatment. Such reasoning indicates that the practitioner utilises more than the reductionist approach of the biomedical model and upholds the belief that domains other than the physical have an involvement in the disease process.

In this double blind study the frequency of inclusion of these holistic markers in diagnosis and subsequent treatment plans made by osteopaths in the clinical setting is compared across five groups; sex, school of graduation, year of graduation, postgraduate qualifications and number of patient visits.

The study concludes that holistic diagnostic reasoning is essential to the subsequent consideration of holistic components in treatment. It also shows an increase in the holistic focus of osteopaths after the patient’s first consultation. A suggestion is discovered that there is possibly an increase in the holistic focus of British School of Osteopathy (BSO) graduates, graduating since the degree status of the BSO course was implemented.