Evidence-based practice among Italian osteopaths: a national cross-sectional survey

Francesco Cerritelli; Alessio Iacopini; Matteo Galli; Oliver P Thomson; Tobias Sundberg; Matthew J Leach; Jon Adams

doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03430-y

Evidence-based practice among Italian osteopaths: a national cross-sectional survey

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Oct 7;21(1):252. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03430-y.

Authors

Francesco Cerritelli¹, Alessio Iacopini², Matteo Galli², Oliver P Thomson^{2

3}, Tobias Sundberg^{4

5

6}, Matthew J Leach^{4

7}, Jon Adams⁴

Affiliations

¹ Clinical-based Human Research Department, Foundation COME Collaboration, Pescara, Italy. francesco.cerritelli@gmail.com.
² Clinical-based Human Research Department, Foundation COME Collaboration, Pescara, Italy.
³ University College of Osteopathy, London, UK.
⁴ Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Musculoskeletal and Sports Injury Epidemiology Center (MUSIC), Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁶ Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research on Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁷ National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: While evidence-based practice (EBP) is widely accepted across healthcare professions, research investigating its implementation in manual therapy professions such as osteopathy is limited. The primary aim of this study was to investigate Italian osteopaths' attitudes, skills, and use of EBP. A secondary purpose was to understand the obstacles and enablers to EBP adoption in the Italian osteopathic context.

Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted (April to June 2020) among a sample of Italian osteopaths. Eligible participants were invited to complete the Italian-translated Evidence-Based practice Attitude and Utilization Survey (EBASE) anonymously online using various recruitment strategies, including email and social media campaigns. In addition to the three EBASE sub-scores (attitudes, skills and use), the demographic characteristics of the sample were considered.

Results: A total of 473 osteopaths responded to the survey. The sample appeared to represent the Italian osteopathic profession. The majority of participants had a favorable attitude toward EBP. Eighty-eight percent of respondents agreed that EBP was necessary for osteopathy practice and that scientific literature and research findings were beneficial to their clinical scenario (95%). Perceived skill levels in EBP were rated as moderate, with the lowest scores for items relating to clinical research and systematic review conduct. Apart from reading/reviewing scientific literature and using online search engines to locate relevant research papers, participant engagement in all other EBP-related activities was generally low. Clinical practice was perceived to be based on a very small proportion of clinical research evidence. The primary obstacles to EBP implementation were a dearth of clinical evidence in osteopathy, and poor skills in applying research findings. The primary enablers of EBP adoption were access to full-text articles, internet connectivity at work, and access to online databases.

Conclusions: Italian osteopaths were largely supportive of evidence-based practice but lacked basic skills in EBP and rarely engaged in EBP activities. The updating of osteopathic training curriculum and professional formal regulation in Italy could provide a suitable framework to improve EBP skills and use.

Keywords: Attitude; Cross-sectional studies; Evidence-based practice; Osteopathy; Skill; Use.

MeSH terms

Adult
Clinical Competence
Cross-Sectional Studies
Evidence-Based Practice*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Health Surveys
Humans
Italy
Male
Middle Aged
Osteopathic Physicians / psychology*
Young Adult