ArticleBMJ open2018
The role of osteopathy in the Swiss primary health care system: a practice review.
Article in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 64 citations in OpenAlex.
- Characteristics, opportunities, and challenges of osteopathy (COCO) in the perceptions of osteopaths in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: a metasynthesis.European journal of medical research · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of osteopathic techniques on human resting muscle tone in healthy subjects using myotonometry: a factorial randomized trial.Scientific reports · 2022Trial
- The use of high-velocity, low-amplitude techniques in paediatric osteopathic care: two multinational cross-sectional surveys on clinical practice and educational curricula.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2026Article
- Twenty years of university-graduated osteopaths in Belgium: A cross-sectional survey.PloS one · 2026Article
- Development of a national osteopathic Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN): the NCOR Research Network.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A descriptive evaluation of a job analysis survey in the chiropractic profession in Switzerland - an update after more than 10 years.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2024Article
- Does Osteopathic Heart-Focused Palpation Modify Heart Rate Variability in Stressed Participants with Musculoskeletal Pain? A Randomised Controlled Pilot Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Applying an osteopathic intervention to improve mild to moderate mental health symptoms: a mixed-methods feasibility study protocol.BMJ open · 2023Article
- The Profile of Belgian Osteopaths: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Efficacy and safety of osteopathic manipulative treatment: an overview of systematic reviews.BMJ open · 2022Review
- Demographic, practice and clinical management characteristics of osteopaths referring to podiatrists: secondary analysis of a nationally representative sample of Australian osteopaths.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- The Austrian Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA): A cross-sectional survey.PloS one · 2022Article
- Osteopathic practice in the United Kingdom: A retrospective analysis of practice data.PloS one · 2022Article
- Osteopathic empirical research: a bibliometric analysis from 1966 to 2018.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2021Article
- Osteopathy and Mental Health: An Embodied, Predictive, and Interoceptive Framework.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- Article
- Health Sciences-Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire (HS-EBP): Normative Data and Differential Profiles in Spanish Osteopathic Professionals.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Osteopathy in the French-speaking part of Switzerland: Practitioners' profile and scope of back pain management.PloS one · 2020Observational
- The Italian Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA) study: How osteopaths work.PloS one · 2020Article
- The Spanish Osteopathic Practitioners Estimates and RAtes (OPERA) study: A cross-sectional survey.PloS one · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe aim of this study was to describe osteopathic activity and scope of practice to understand the current and future role of osteopathy in the Swiss healthcare system.
designA questionnaire survey that included a patient record-based retrospective clinical audit. SETTING/POPULATION: Osteopaths with a national diploma (n=1086) were invited by mail to participate in an online survey. Osteopathic assistants (n=84) were identified through their national association. QUESTIONNAIRE: The survey was constructed from previous surveys and tested for face validity with experts, osteopaths and patient representatives. The questionnaires were completed online in English, German and French between April and August 2017. Osteopaths anonymously reported information about themselves, their practice, and the treatment and care for four randomly selected patients they managed in 2016.
resultsThe response rate from the survey was 44.5% (521/1171). Data on osteopathic care were collected for 1144 patients and 3449 consultations. In 2016, osteopaths saw approximately 6.8% of the Swiss population for 1700 000 consultations and an overall estimated cost of 200 million Swiss francs. 76% of patients sought care directly without a referral from another care provider. Few osteopaths (<1%) work in a hospital setting and 46% work in isolation in private practice. Infants (under 2 years old) made up 10% of all patients and 9% of patients were ≥65 years. Patients most commonly sought treatment for musculoskeletal conditions (81%) with the spine being the most frequent location (66%). Treatments also included exercise advice (34.2%) and lifestyle management (35.4%). Fewer than 1 patient out of 10 were referred to another health profession or provider.
conclusionsIn Switzerland, osteopathic care represents an important first line management for musculoskeletal conditions that alleviates some of the burden of care in the Swiss primary healthcare system.
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