title: Patients' expectations of osteopathic care: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has shown that patients' expectations of health care and health-care practitioners are complex and may have a significant impact on outcomes of care. Little is known about the expectations of osteopathic patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore osteopathic patients' expectations of private sector care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and individual interviews with purposively selected patients; this was the qualitative phase of a mixed methods study, the final phase being a patient survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 34 adult patients currently attending for treatment at private osteopathic practices across the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group discussions and individual interviews around expectations before, during and after osteopathic care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thematic analysis of text data to identify topics raised by patients and to group these into broad themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many components of expectation were identified. A preliminary conceptual framework describing the way the therapeutic encounter is approached in osteopathy comprised five themes: individual agency, professional expertise, customer experience, therapeutic process and interpersonal relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The components of expectation identified in this phase of the study provided potential question topics for the survey questionnaire in the subsequent phase of the investigation. The model developed in this study may add a new perspective to existing evidence on expectations. Further research is recommended to test the findings both within private practice and the National Health Service.
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Vinette
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: C M Janine
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fawkes
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Ann P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D055360:Osteopathic Physicians; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011331:Private Practice; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: expectations; focus groups; interviews; musculoskeletal manipulations; osteopathic medicine; qualitative research