Increasing osteopathic manipulative treatment skills and confidence through mastery learning

Several recent studies document the declining use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in clinical practice. In this article, the authors contend that developing new teaching materials based on the mastery learning approach can augment time-tested methods of teaching OMT and help to stop or reverse this decline. The Spencer technique for shoulder manipulation is used to demonstrate the development and evaluation of OMT mastery learning materials. These materials could be developed as part of a progressive teaching sequence requiring increasing diagnostic acumen, palpatory skill, and therapeutic subtlety. Such a program could be used throughout osteopathic medical training and for continuing medical education to increase skills and confidence in the use of OMT.