Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2008/11, 142, type of study: ,del,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2969)

Keywords:

A.T. Still [50]
triune osteopathy [1]
philosophy of osteopathy [3]
delphi study [5]
msc thesis [23]
osteopathic medicine [2109]
WSO [508]

Abstract:

Study Design: A Delphi-survey Outline/Problem Definition Osteopathy in Germany is often called a holistic therapy (ganzheitliche Therapiemethode). Vaguely referring to A.T.Still´s TRIUNE MAN and his philosophy of osteopathy every German osteopath has his or her own concept of how the interaction between “body”, “mind” and “spirit” can be understood. Osteopathic ublications offer diverse interpretations employing different philosophical/spiritual/religious and natural-scientific backgrounds. The actual standing of osteopathy in modern German health system shows the request for a definite description for which philosophy, osteopathy should be located in. Research Question & Objective 1)Does Osteopathy in Germany need a holistic Hypothesis None Relevance for the Patients Contributions to a philosophical clearing process within the group of German osteopaths concerning the answer to the patient´s question: Relevance for Osteopathy This master thesis is able to contribute philosophical categories and some representative data, concerning the opinion of German osteopaths, to further investigations and discussions. Methodology A Delphi-study, Type 3 in two rounds. In the first round the participants made their assessment on German translations of “body”, “mind” and “spirit”, which were put into a short sentence, describing their possible deeper meaning according to each of the five categories. In the second survey-round the osteopaths were asked for their involvement of these categories in different practical fields of osteopathy like research, education, representation to public and to patients. Participants: All 298 osteopaths who work in the postal code areas 1 and 7 in Germany and were registered in one of three German osteopathic associations. 112 osteopaths answered the questionnaire in the first round, 81 in the second round. Results In the first round 96,4% shared the fundamental belief of A.T.Still that “man has to be triune to be completed”. For most osteopaths the body aspect is understood as relying on natural scientific models, while the mental and the spiritual aspect are mainly understood in a philosophical manner based on the German tradition of Naturphilosophie, or modern interpretations of spirituality. In the second round 58% decided for a natural-scientific approach based on a psychosomatic or Systems Theory model for the public representation. 24,7% personally share this opinion.Only 17% want to represent osteopathy in public having a spiritual/religious or philosophical concept, allthough for 45,6% this is the personal approach. Critical Reflection/Perspectives/Conclusions German osteopaths have a holistic approach to therapy. No agreement could be achieved on which philosophical background this holistic concept should be based on. The represented Additional Information This thesis was originally written in German. Using specific philosophical terms and, that were not available in English language, I recommend to read it in German - if possible.