Differences in practice among osteopaths in the UK with more than or less than 10 years of experience: a cross-sectional study

Objectives To explore possible factors related to the increased likelihood of retirement from practice and increased number of complaints and concerns received by osteopaths in practice 10 years or more.Design Online cross-sectional survey.Setting UK osteopathic healthcare.Participants UK-based osteopaths registered with the General Osteopathic Council.Results 570 questionnaires were eligible for analysis. Respondents were mostly women (57.5%), working in England (90.7%), white or white British (91.8%), 50–59 years of age (29.6%) and practicing for 0–5 years (16.9%). Osteopaths who had been in practice for 10 years or more were significantly (χ² tests, p<0.05) more likely to be a principal (81.1% vs 49.2%), aged 50–59 years (37% vs 14.3%) have a bachelor’s degree (64.3% vs 31.2%), work alone (23.9% vs 11.6%), in fewer than three clinics (84% vs 69.3%), use paper patient records (47.5% vs 28.3%), see fewer than five new patients a week (59.8% vs 40.2%) and use cranial osteopathy on a daily basis (37.3% vs 18.5%).Conclusions Osteopaths who have been in practice for 10 years or more have some significantly different demographics and aspects of clinical practice and patient management to those in practice less than 10 years. However, it is not clear whether these differences are influential in decisions for leaving practice or the increased number of concerns and issues received.