Lifestyle changes in osteopathy and naturopathy students due to their education
Item
- Title
- Lifestyle changes in osteopathy and naturopathy students due to their education
- Author(s)
- De Alba, Antonieta
- Abstract
- BackgroundSelf-care advice is a relevant component of healthcare practice today as detrimental health habits have been shown to contribute often to the development of disease. The personal habits of healthcare practitioners influence their confidence and skills in self-care counseling to their patients. Academic input during the training years can have a positive impact in the students’ lifestyle habits which is then translated into their clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of osteopathic and naturopathic education in the student’s health behaviours. MethodsOne-hundred and six students from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine undertaking a Masters in Osteopathy and Diploma in Naturopathy were invited to complete a questionnaire that explored the impact of the course in four areas of self-care: nutrition, exercise, posture and stress management. ResultsThirty-nine students completed the questionnaire. 53.8% reported an improvement in their health habits as a result of doing the course; 20.5% reported improvement in some habits and deterioration in others, while 15.4% said their habits were less healthy. There was no relationship between year of study, gender or having a previous health-related qualification and improving lifestyle habits during the course. The area of self-care which received a greater positive impact from the course wasnutrition, followed by posture. Lack of time due to academic commitments was a strong barrier to improving self-care habits. ConclusionsStudents of osteopathy and naturopathy are encouraged by their academic education to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. However, the workload and financial limitations associated with student life often prevent students from applying what they learn to the personal habits. These barriers and weak curricular self-care subjects should be addressed.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2016
- Date Submitted
- 12.11.2018 18:46:16
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 26
- Submitted by:
- 4457
- Pub-Identifier
- 16264
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- osteopathic education, naturopathy, lifestyle, self-care
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
De Alba, Antonieta, “Lifestyle changes in osteopathy and naturopathy students due to their education”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 23, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/2063