title: Cost-effective osteopathic manipulative medicine: a literature review of cost-effectiveness analyses for osteopathic manipulative treatment.
abstract: Despite the value that osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) may offer to healthcare consumers in a managed care, evidence-based healthcare system, very little research has been published on the cost-effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment compared with other treatment modalities. The authors searched MEDLINE and OSTMED for English-language articles published between January 1966 and June 2002 using the key terms cost-effectiveness, osteopathic medicine, workers' compensation, hospital length of stay, healthcare providers, and manipulative medicine. The authors then extended their search by reviewing the reference lists provided in the articles initially identified as relevant by these databases. The purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions of each study were evaluated for how the cost-effectiveness of OMM was analyzed. The authors conclude that the osteopathic medical profession needs to conduct and publish research that is consistent with current practices in the conventional medical literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2644, USA. rgamber@hsc.unt.edu
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gamber
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: des Anges
authors.initials: dA
authors.lastname: Cruser
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hilsenrath
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D026301:Manipulation, Osteopathic / Q000191:economics*; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics