Osteopathic manipulative treatment for allopathic physicians: piloting a longitudinal curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• The Accreditation for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) single accreditation system increases opportunities for teaching osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to allopathic physicians (MDs).
• MDs require a unique educational approach to OMT due to their distinct learning needs compared to osteopathic medical students.
• Residency programs with osteopathic recognition (OR) need tailored osteopathic education for MDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a longitudinal OMT elective for allopathic residents and faculty.
• To assess the impact of the OMT elective on participants' attitudes and confidence regarding osteopathic principles and treatment.

Main Methods:

• A blended online and in-person modular curriculum covering OMT modalities and osteopathic reflexes was created.
• A quality improvement study utilized pre- and post-course surveys to evaluate changes in perceptions and confidence.
• Follow-up informal interviews assessed the long-term perceived impact of the elective.

Main Results:

• Participants reported statistically significant improvements in knowledge and confidence regarding OMT principles and application.
• While not statistically significant, there was an increase in the number of providers using OMT and the frequency of its use.
• Most participants (72.7%) completed the course, with a portion having prior OMT exposure.

Conclusions:

• A longitudinal OMT elective curriculum is a feasible method for enhancing MDs' attitudes and confidence in OMT within family medicine residencies.
• Further evaluation is needed to formally assess competency in OMT for allopathic residents and faculty.
• The pilot program's success led to curriculum revisions and its continuation as a yearly elective.