Regulatory and practice issues related to the acquisition of practical osteopathic skills for paediatric care

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

1. What documentation exists regarding paediatric osteopathic competence? 2. What is the nature of, and the need for practical clinical skills in the osteopathic care of children? 3. What are stakeholders’ views regarding best practice for the acquisition of clinical skills for the osteopathic care of children? 4. What are stakeholders’ views as to the learning theories involved in the acquisition of clinical skills for the osteopathic care of children?

ABSTRACT: Paediatric care is a popular and growing area of osteopathy. This area of practice is sparsely regulated and there are inconsistent educational standards. There is also a gap in the literature regarding competency and education in this field. This research aims to discover the opinions of key stakeholders regarding practical osteopathic skills for paediatric care.

This study employed qualitative research methods using an interpretative approach by conducting three focus group interviews at an international osteopathic conference held in New Zealand. The select groups were separately comprised of regulators, educators and practitioners. Thematic coding was employed to analyse themes across the responses of the three stakeholder groups.

The opinions of all three stakeholder groups were consistent in identifying a need for direct educational instruction for the acquisition of practical clinical skills in paediatric care. For a basic level of competence, that is especially important for clinical safety, the groups were in general agreement that this education should occur in the pre-registration period. The practitioners’ group was the least clear regarding training delivery. There was strong agreement across the educators’ and regulators’ groups that theoretical education, followed by clinical observation and then low-ratio supervised practice in paediatric focussed clinical time, is what is required.

A significant consideration for further consultation and development of this area of practice is that the practitioners’ group expressed the least objectivity about conscious competency, the necessity of training and educational considerations. The regulators and educators identified the general absence of competencies for the care of children across the international profession. The key recommendation for all stakeholders is for an international approach to the development of more specific competency and accreditation standards for the osteopathic care of children.