Table 2.
Practice characteristics of Australian osteopaths who often use exercise prescription in patient care.
| Not often | Often | p value | OR 95% [CI] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice location | ||||
| Urban practice | 209 (21.1%) | 610 (61.6%) | 0.49 | — |
| More than one practice location | 64 (6.5%) | 282 (28.5%) | <0.01 | 1.88 [1.37, 2.60] |
| Colocated with other health professionals (“yes”) | ||||
| Osteopath | 149 (15.1%) | 492 (49.7%) | <0.01 | 1.48 [1.10, 1.98] |
| General practitioner | 13 (1.3%) | 58 (5.9%) | 0.13 | — |
| Specialist medical practitioner | 6 (0.6%) | 25 (2.5%) | 0.40 | — |
| Podiatrist | 36 (3.6%) | 109 (11.0%) | 0.73 | — |
| Physiotherapist | 25 (2.5%) | 118 (11.9%) | 0.01 | 1.78 [1.13, 2.81] |
| Exercise physiologist | 16 (1.6%) | 107 (10.8%) | <0.01 | 2.57 [1.49, 4.44] |
| Occupational Therapist | 6 (0.6%) | 13 (1.3%) | 0.57 | — |
| Psychologist | 52 (5.3%) | 138 (13.9%) | 0.62 | — |
| Massage Therapist | 117 (11.8%) | 382 (38.6%) | 0.07 | — |
| Acupuncturist | 484 (4.8%) | 139 (14.0%) | 0.92 | — |
| Naturopath | 43 (4.3%) | 150 (15.2%) | 0.19 | — |
| Dietician | 16 (1.6%) | 54 (5.5%) | 0.54 | — |
| Nutritionist | 17 (1.7%) | 60 (6.1%) | 0.42 | — |
| Send referrals to other health professionals (“yes”) | ||||
| Osteopath | 127 (12.8%) | 378 (38.2%) | 0.55 | — |
| General practitioner | 224 (22.6%) | 652 (65.9%) | 0.43 | — |
| Specialist medical practitioner | 90 (9.1%) | 353 (35.7%) | <0.01 | 1.72 [1.28, 2.31] |
| Podiatrist | 149 (15.1%) | 500 (50.5%) | <0.01 | 1.55 [1.16, 2.08] |
| Physiotherapist | 85 (8.6%) | 246 (24.8%) | 0.88 | — |
| Exercise physiologist | 75 (7.6%) | 322 (32.5%) | <0.01 | 1.90 [1.40, 2.58] |
| Occupational Therapist | 28 (2.8%) | 78 (7.9%) | 0.91 | — |
| Psychologist | 99 (10.0%) | 249 (25.2%) | 0.19 | — |
| Massage Therapist | 170 (17.2%) | 500 (50.5%) | 0.54 | — |
| Acupuncturist | 125 (12.6%) | 325 (32.8%) | 0.23 | — |
| Naturopath | 130 (13.1%) | 347 (35.1%) | 0.37 | — |
| Dietician | 32 (3.2%) | 133 (13.4%) | 0.02 | 1.56 [1.03, 2.36] |
| Nutritionist | 26 (2.6%) | 102 (10.3%) | 0.12 | — |
| Receive referrals from other health professionals (“yes”) | ||||
| Osteopath | 157 (15.9%) | 456 (46.1%) | 0.75 | — |
| General practitioner | 226 (22.8%) | 658 (66.5%) | 0.41 | — |
| Specialist medical practitioner | 47 (4.7%) | 189 (19.1%) | 0.01 | 1.55 [1.08, 2.22] |
| Podiatrist | 105 (10.6%) | 364 (36.8%) | 0.01 | 1.42 [1.07, 1.90] |
| Physiotherapist | 60 (6.1%) | 205 (20.7%) | 0.15 | — |
| Exercise physiologist | 52 (5.3%) | 205 (20.7%) | 0.15 | — |
| Occupational Therapist | 16 (1.6%) | 45 (4.5%) | 0.96 | — |
| Psychologist | 39 (3.9%) | 115 (11.6%) | 0.84 | — |
| Massage Therapist | 182 (18.4%) | 570 (57.6%) | 0.02 | 1.44 [1.04, 1.98] |
| Acupuncturist | 102 (10.3%) | 267 (27.0%) | 0.35 | — |
| Naturopath | 92 (9.3%) | 308 (31.1%) | 0.08 | — |
| Dietician | 5 (0.5%) | 33 (3.3%) | 0.06 | — |
| Nutritionist | 12 (1.2%) | 42 (4.2%) | 0.52 | — |
| Diagnostic imaging | ||||
| Referral for imaging (“often”) | 10 (1.0%) | 63 (6.4%) | 0.01 | 2.32 [1.17, 4.60] |
| Investigation of unknown pathologies | 176 (17.8%) | 564 (57.0%) | <0.01 | 1.52 [1.12, 2.10] |
| Investigation of suspected diagnosis | 216 (21.8%) | 617 (62.3%) | 0.96 | — |
| Investigation of potential fractures | 194 (19.6%) | 554 (56.0%) | 0.97 | — |
| Rule out risk factors prior to treatment | 67 (6.8%) | 205 (20.7%) | 0.56 | — |
| General screening of the spine | 7 (0.7%) | 25 (2.5%) | 0.38 | — |
| Patient assessment (“yes”) | ||||
| Orthopaedic testing | 241 (24.3%) | 725 (73.2%) | <0.01 | 6.01 [2.54, 14.23] |
| Clinical assessment algorithm | 95 (9.6%) | 373 (37.7%) | <0.01 | 1.77 [1.32, 2.36] |
| Neurological testing | 229 (23.1%) | 687 (69.4%) | 0.01 | 1.82 [1.11, 2.99] |
| Screening questionnaire | 157 (15.9%) | 476 (48.1%) | 0.27 | — |
| Cranial nerve testing | 168 (17.0%) | 502 (50.7%) | 0.36 | — |