The Spanish Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA) study: A cross-sectional survey

Alvarez, Gerard; Roura, Sonia; Cerritelli, Francesco; Esteves, Jorge E.; Verbeeck, Johan; Dun, Patrick L.S. van

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234713

Cited by 27 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Despite these low levels of skill in relation to the utilization of EBP , several barriers to the use of EBP were perceived as not important by participants. Although it was not possible to calculate the mean response and the number of withdrawals from the survey, the nal number of participants that completed the survey was around 9% of the target population, which is similar to the survey response rate reported for osteopaths in a similar UK study [26] Our study sample had a high proportion of male participants and those aged between 30 and 49 years, which was similar to that reported in another recent survey of Spanish osteopaths [33]. Previous studies in the UK and Australia have also reported comparable gender distributions [26,31] although in Sweden this distribution was more balanced [40].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…It also was not possible to calculate a survey response rate as the actual reach of the survey could not be determined. However, considering a potential target population of 6000 Spanish osteopaths [33] the estimated response rate would be approximately 9% (564/6000).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No exclusion criteria were applied. Although there is no reliable data on the number of osteopaths practising in Spain, numbers of graduates from osteopathic educational institutions (OEIs) in Spain estimate the Spanish osteopathic workforce to be in the vicinity of 5000-6000 [33]. Based on a target population of 6000, at least 362 osteopaths were required to be surveyed in order to achieve a 5% margin of error and a 95% con dence interval for any individual item on the survey.…”

Section: Sample and Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Spain, osteopathy is not a regulated healthcare profession [32,33]. Consequently, osteopaths with different professional, academic and clinical pro les (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…quali cations, training standards and competencies) operate across Spain. At the same time, despite the existence of European standards for osteopathic education [34], there is considerable heterogeneity across training programs [32,33]. In this regard, the attitudes and utilisation of EBP among Spanish osteopaths remains uncertain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attitudes, Skills and Use of Evidence-Based Practice Amongst Spanish Osteopaths: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Alvarez¹,

Justribo²,

Sundberg³

et al. 2020

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Background: Although evidence-based practice (EBP) is largely supported across healthcare professions, its implementation in manual therapy professions such as osteopathy remains limited and debated. There is currently little knowledge of how EBP relates to osteopathy in Spain, and the attitudes, skills and utilisation of osteopaths.Objectives: The main aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes, skills and use of EBP among Spanish osteopaths. A secondary aim was to identify barriers and facilitators for the adoption of EBP in the Spanish osteopathic context.Methods: National cross-sectional survey of Spanish osteopaths registered and non-registered to an osteopathic association in Spain. Eligible participants were invited by a range of recruitment strategies including email and social media campaigns to complete the Spanish-translated Evidence-Based practice Attitude and utilization Survey (EBASE) anonymously online. Results: A total of 567 osteopaths completed the survey which represents an estimated response rate of approximately 9%. Participant’s attitudes toward EBP were largely positive. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that EBP was necessary in the practice of osteopathy (89.6%) and professional literature and research findings were useful to their day-to-day practice (88.9%). Levels of perceived skill in EBP were reported as low to moderate with lowest levels for items related to ‘research conduct’. Except reading/reviewing professional literature and using online search engines to find practice-related literature, participant engagement in all other EBP-related activities was generally infrequent. The perceived proportion of clinical practice that was based on clinical research evidence was reported to be very small. Main barriers to EBP uptake included a lack of clinical evidence in osteopathy and insufficient skills for applying research findings. Main facilitators of EBP uptake included access to full-text articles, internet at the workplace and online databases.Conclusions: Spanish osteopaths were largely supportive of evidence-based practice, had low to moderate skills in EBP and engaged in EBP activities infrequently. Formal regulation of the profession in Spain and the inclusion of osteopathic programs into the university sector would potentially improve EBP adhesion.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample and Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Spain, osteopathy is not a regulated healthcare profession [32,33]. Consequently, osteopaths with different professional, academic and clinical pro les (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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