Reconsidering the patient-centeredness of osteopathy

Abstract

The widespread use of the biopsychosocial model amongst various health professions, all of which claim to take a patient-centred approach to their practise, challenges what has been considered a unique and defining feature of osteopathy. This paper discusses the complexity of what is meant by patient-centeredness, and how it is practised and researched by other health professions. The assumption that osteopathy has always taken a patient-centred approach is questioned, and directions for further research are highlighted so that the profession can have a comprehensive working knowledge of its practise, thereby helping to define itself within the broad and competitive healthcare environment.