Evaluation of osteopathic manipulative treatment training by practicing physicians in Ohio

The authors mailed a survey designed to evaluate beliefs about osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) training to the 2318 osteopathic physicians registered with the Ohio Osteopathic Association. Responses were received from 871 osteopathic physicians (response rate, 38%). Fifty-three percent of the respondents had used OMT with patients at least once during the week before the survey. With regard to OMT training, 60% rated their experience during medical school as acceptable; during postgraduate training the acceptable rating dropped to 9%. Osteopathic manipulative treatment training through continuing medical education programs was rated as acceptable by 26% who had participated in these programs. Forty percent of the respondents reported that they were practicing less OMT now than when they originally entered practice, while 20% reported using OMT procedures more often. No significant correlation was observed between OMT training satisfaction during medical school and current use of OMT. However, a strong negative correlation was observed between satisfaction with postgraduate OMT training and OMT use. This survey did not detect any association between year of graduation and use of OMT.