Establishing international expert consensus on core competencies and best practices in osteopathic education: a...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Osteopathic education curricula exhibit significant variation and inconsistent alignment with current evidence.
• This lack of standardization complicates accreditation, workforce mobility, and public understanding of osteopathic practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve international expert consensus on core osteopathic capabilities.
• To establish a standardized framework for osteopathic education.

Main Methods:

• A three-round modified Delphi study involving 40-60 international osteopathic education experts.
• The process included open-ended questions, thematic analysis, and structured rating using a 4-point Likert scale.
• Consensus was determined using descriptive statistics to assess stability and guide item retention.

Main Results:

• The study successfully developed international expert consensus on core osteopathic capabilities.
• The Delphi process refined consensus statements through iterative expert feedback.

Conclusions:

• The established consensus provides a foundation for standardizing osteopathic education globally.
• These core capabilities will support curriculum development, accreditation, and international dialogue in osteopathic medicine.