Osteopathic Focus in the Biomedical Sciences: A Survey of Biomedical Science Faculty at Osteopathic Medical Schools in the United States

Abstract

Ebert, Didi E., Osteopathic Focus in the Biomedical Sciences: A Survey of Biomedical Science Faculty at Osteopathic Medical Schools in the United States. Master of Science (Clinical Research and Education), May, 2007, 73 pp., 6 tables, 2 figures, bibliography, 20 titles. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the knowledge of osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) among biomedical science faculty at osteopathic medical schools (COMs) and to assess their attitudes towards the integration of osteopathic principles and OMM concepts into the biomedical science curriculum and biomedical science research. A cross-sectional survey was administered to biomedical science research. A cross-sectional survey was administered to biomedical science faculty at COMs within the United States. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize data, and means were compared between health science center faculty and non-health science center faculty and between anatomy faculty and non-anatomy faculty. The survey response rate was 29%. Overall, survey respondents demonstrated positive attitudes and high levels of knowledge regarding osteopathic principles and less positive attitudes toward OMM. Significant differences were noted between faculty at health science centers versus faculty at non-health science centers and between anatomy faculty and non-anatomy faculty. Data from this survey may be useful in designing strategies to increase the integration of osteopathic principles into the biomedical science curriculum.