Practice patterns of osteopathic physicians providing end-of-life care: a survey-based study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Osteopathic Medicine

Background:

• The Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care (EPEC) curriculum was developed by the American Medical Association in 1996.
• Osteopathic-EPEC was created to integrate osteopathic medicine's core tenets into end-of-life care education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of EPEC training on osteopathic physicians.
• To assess the integration of osteopathic principles and practice in end-of-life care by osteopathic physicians (DOs).

Main Methods:

• Survey of osteopathic physicians who attended American Osteopathic Association (AOA) workshops in 2002 and 2003.
• Inquiry into the use of advance directives and osteopathic principles, including manipulative techniques, for terminally ill patients.

Main Results:

• Over 90% of respondents considered the four core tenets of osteopathic medicine important.
• 89% believed osteopathic medicine's philosophy better prepared them for end-of-life care.
• 79% agreed osteopathic skills enhanced their ability to provide quality care to terminally ill patients.

Conclusions:

• Osteopathic physicians perceive that osteopathic tenets enhance their effectiveness in providing end-of-life care.
• Fewer than half of surveyed DOs found osteopathic manipulative techniques consistently effective for pain and symptom management in the dying process.