Teaching osteopathic principles and practices: Easy as ABCs

Abstract

Background: The use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) among osteopathic physicians in clinical practice has demonstrated decline.1 Early in their education, osteopathic medical students learned the foundational tenets and the philosophic considerations, and they practiced hands-on techniques. Upon reaching their clinical rotations, however, student application of osteopathic principles and practices (OPP) and osteopathic structural examinations (OSE) are often omitted.2 The choice to not use osteopathic principles or to not complete an OSE is likely multifactorial, including lack of preceptor role modeling and confidence in ability. Attending physician time and support also may be significant contributing factors.3 An additional consideration may be a lack of a clinical osteopathic framework for students and faculty to easily consider principles in any patient or disease process and allow preceptors a lens through which to observe student osteopathic rationale. This article will describe an approach that aims to increase the usage of OMT in clinical practice and the ease of precepting osteopathic students by providing a clear and concise clinical osteopathic framework for students and faculty to quickly integrate osteopathic principles into any patient encounter.