Public and patient perceptions
We carry out research to help us understand the views and perceptions of osteopathy patients and members of the public in relation to osteopathy and osteopathic regulation.
Perceptions research 2023
This research, carried out on behalf of the GOsC, explored public confidence in healthcare professionals and the experience of patients when visiting an osteopath. Following on from surveys conducted in 2018 and 2014, the research aims to provide an understanding and track changes in public and patient perceptions of osteopathic care and regulation over time.
Over 1,000 members of the public and 500 osteopathic patients completed a survey as part of this research conducted by YouGov, who then compared the results with the previous findings. The study found:
- Around half of the general public have confidence in getting advice/treatment from osteopaths, and they rank around the middle across all healthcare professionals polled.
- Since the previous two waves, while osteopaths continue to rank broadly around the middle across the healthcare professionals polled, overall confidence in osteopaths has steadily decreased. We continue our work improve confidence, for example by considering how to better protect the osteopathic title.
- Recent osteopathic patients surveyed are significantly more likely than the general public to have confidence in an osteopath; over nine in 10 (96%) have a lot or fair amount of confidence in osteopaths.
- When asked about what is important for giving confidence in healthcare professionals, providing good advice and treatment (92%), having a recognised level of education/training (91%), and being required to keep knowledge and skills up-to-date (91%) were identified as important.
- For osteopathic patients, personal experience is the main driver of choosing osteopathy over other medical/healthcare professionals (84%). Around half say that ‘knowing I can access treatment quickly’ (50%), regulation (48%), or recommendation from a family member/friend (47%) would encourage them to go to an osteopath.
- When thinking about what information is important when deciding to visit an osteopath, just under three-quarters of UK adults who have never visited an osteopath say it is very important to know that osteopaths are required to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date (73%), information on their professional standards (73%), and the benefits of treatment (72%).
- Those with a disability are more likely than those without to want to know ahead of time if there is a complaints process in the event they are unhappy with treatment (71% vs 62%).
- Over nine in 10 osteopathic patients surveyed thought their osteopath was very or fairly good during their most recent visit. In particular, almost all say the osteopath was very good at making them feel at ease (91%) and nearly nine in 10 said their osteopath was very good at being positive (87%) or showing care and compassion (87%).
Read the full Perceptions: Public and Patients report
Perceptions research 2018 and 2014
Our 2023 research builds on the research carried out in 2014 and 2018 to explore public and patient perceptions of osteopathy and osteopathic regulation.
A national public survey conducted by YouGov at the end of 2014 with a nationally representative sample of 1,566 members of the UK public, including 523 people who had visited an osteopath in the last 12 months. The results are presented in the following full and summary reports:
These reports went to Council in May 2015 along with a commentary on the findings of the study and the findings of the Community Research public-patient focus groups.
The GOsC commentary highlights the implications of the research for regulation, the work of the GOsC, individual osteopaths and the osteopathic profession as a whole.
A follow up survey by YouGov, in April 2018, questioned a nationally representative sample of 1,004 members of the public and 500 people who had seen an osteopath in the previous 12 month. In the report, the 2018 results are compared with the 2014 results.
Focus groups 2014
Focus groups were carried out in 2014, attended by osteopathic patients and members of the public with no prior experience of osteopathy. Participants in the focus groups were aged 18-80 and represented a range of backgrounds. These events were facilitated by independent research company Community Research.
