The GOsC is committed to supporting best practice in osteopathic research. Osteopathy’s integration within the wider primary healthcare community will be assisted by reliable evidence of the health benefits of osteopathic care.
Osteopathy’s independent research bodyThe National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) was established in 2003, to foster research and raise the profile of osteopathy research findings.
Based at the Clinical Research Centre in the School of Health Professions at the University of Brighton, NCOR is funded by stakeholder groups: the General Osteopathic Council, the British Osteopathic Association, and all the UK osteopathic educational institutions. NCOR's governing council includes representatives from these stakeholder groups and two further co-opted members, representing both private and NHS practitioners.
For further information about the work of NCOR email the NCOR Research Development Officer at C.A.Fawkes@brighton.ac.uk or visit the NCOR website.
Recent research reports relating to osteopathy.
The Effectiveness of Manual Therapies – the UK evidence report offers a comprehensive summary of the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of manual therapies in the management of a range of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions.
Further information relating to clinical guidelines can be found on our Referrals to osteopaths page.
The GOsC also commissions its own research to assess the effectiveness of its regulatory processes and policies. Recent, ongoing and future research projects are listed below.
The GOsC has commissioned the University of Brighton to conduct a comprehensive UK-wide survey of public and patient expectations and experience of osteopathic care. We will use the resulting data to assist us in carrying out our statutory duties as well as to inform future policy-making and the production of information for patients and the public, and guidance for osteopaths.
The Osteopathic Patient Expectations (OPEn) study will survey patients in three distinct clinical settings: private practices; clinics run by osteopathic educational institutions; and NHS-funded osteopathic care. The survey will target up to 8,000 patients through 800 practices. To assist the development of the survey questionnaire, 15 patient focus groups were conducted across the four countries of the UK during 2009. The study is nearing completion and there will be information about the results on this site in due course.
It is the patient’s right to be made as fully aware as possible of any known risks associated with a healthcare intervention, before consenting to treatment. Clause 20 of the GOsC Code of Practice for Osteopaths, along with other associated clauses, relate to information exchange between patients and practitioners and the expectations associated with consent procedures.
To gain a better understanding of any potential risk that may be associated with osteopathic care, four interlinked research projects have been funded by the GOsC. This systematic investigation of adverse events associated with osteopathic care aims to inform and guide osteopaths’ practice and enhance patient safety. Currently, almost all the available information about adverse reactions to manual therapy is based on chiropractic or physiotherapy research.
This GOsC programme of research comprises four studies:
We have commissioned a programme of ongoing research to test complainants' and registrants' satisfaction levels with the service provided by our Fitness to Practise department. The research, which began in January 2009, also includes individuals who contact the GOsC with a concern but may not go on to make a formal complaint. Completed questionnaires are analysed by an independent research organisation. These findings will be used to refine our fitness to practise processes and, where appropriate, issue guidance to registrants. Email us at regulation@osteopathy.org.uk for further information.
In March 2010 the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence published an audit of all healthcare regulators’ handling of the early stages of complaints. The audit found that the GOsC deals with initial fitness to practise decisions effectively and makes “consistent decisions that are sound, that protect the public, and that should maintain public confidence in the regulation of the osteopathic profession”. Several areas of good practice were highlighted and the audit also identified two areas where some enhancement was needed: in providing more detailed explanations of some of the Investigating Committee’s decisions; and more complete recording of interactions with the parties involved in the complaints process. For further information see our press release about the audit findings.
We are planning to conduct a comprehensive, national survey of osteopathic practice to obtain an up-to-date profile of osteopathic practice trends. The results of the survey will inform our strategic plans. For more information email us at info@osteopathy.org.uk.
In August 2008 we conducted a survey of new registrants to assess their satisfaction levels with our registration processes. Of those who responded, 94% considered the assistance given by the GOsC to those applying for registration helpful, and two-thirds rated the GOsC pre-registration communications campaign very useful. Just 8% had experienced difficulty completing the registration process, and 25% suggested aspects of the process that could be improved – findings that have helped us refine our processes. Email us at registration@osteopathy.org.uk for further information.
We welcome comments and feedback about this website and the information on it. If you have any comments or if you have not been able to find the information you want in this section or on the website as a whole, please contact us by using the form on the Contact us page or by emailing info@osteopathy.org.uk.
