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. 2018 Sep 11:26:34.
doi: 10.1186/s12998-018-0204-0. eCollection 2018.

Impact of the workforce distribution on the viability of the osteopathic profession in Australia: results from a national survey of registered osteopaths

Amie Steel  1   2 , Nigel Jackson  3 , Raymond Blaich  3 , Mathew Kirk  3 , Jon Wardle  1
Affiliations

Impact of the workforce distribution on the viability of the osteopathic profession in Australia: results from a national survey of registered osteopaths

Amie Steel et al. Chiropr Man Therap. .

Abstract

Background: Workforce distribution has an important influence on the quality of healthcare delivered in a region, primarily because it impacts access to health services in the community and overall health equity in the population. Distribution of osteopaths in Australia does not appear to follow the Australian population with the majority of osteopaths located in Victoria. The implications of this imbalance on the osteopathic workforce have not yet been explored.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data from a survey of 1531 members of Osteopathy Australia in 2013. The analysis focused on the practice and occupational characteristics associated with practice locality.

Results: The survey was completed by a representative sample of 432 osteopaths. Respondents practicing outside Victoria were more likely to report higher income across all income brackets, and were less likely to report a preference for more patients.

Conclusions: The Australian osteopathic profession should examine the issue of imbalanced workforce distribution as a priority. The results of this study are worth considering for all stakeholders as part of a coordinated approach to ensure the ongoing health of the Australian osteopathic workforce.

Keywords: Health workforce; Osteopathy; Survey; Workforce sustainability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics Approval was granted from Endeavour College of Natural Health Human Research Ethics Committee (#2015035).Not applicable.The authors have no competing interests to declare.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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