Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Dec 3;19(1):8.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07582-9.

Assessing content validity of the Osteo-TAQ(Aus) using cognitive interviews: cross-jurisdictional evidence from UK osteopathic practice​​

Oliver P Thomson  1 , Elena Golder  2 , Gopi Anne McLeod  3   4 , Jerry Draper-Rodi  3   5 , Steven Vogel  3 , Brett Vaughan  3   6   7   4
Affiliations

Assessing content validity of the Osteo-TAQ(Aus) using cognitive interviews: cross-jurisdictional evidence from UK osteopathic practice​​

Oliver P Thomson et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Background: The Osteopaths' Therapeutic Approaches Questionnaire (Osteo-TAQ) has demonstrated content, construct, and face validity across multiple jurisdictions but required cognitive validation for use in the United Kingdom (UK).

Objectives: To assess the cognitive content and face validity of the Australian-adapted Osteo-TAQ (Osteo-TAQ(Aus)) with practising UK osteopaths, and to determine whether any revisions were necessary.

Methods: Cognitive interviews were conducted with six (n = 6) UK osteopaths using a combination of think-aloud and verbal probing techniques, informed by the Cognitive Interview Reporting Framework (CIRF). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using team-based content analysis to identify issues of item interpretation, clarity and relevance to UK practice.

Results: Strong alignment with UK practice was demonstrated across all 36 items. No items required modification, providing positive validation evidence for cross-jurisdictional stability. Participants reported that the Osteo-TAQ(Aus) items were relevant, understandable and reflective of their day-to-day clinical practice.

Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence of cross-jurisdictional cognitive stability for the Osteo-TAQ(Aus), demonstrating robust content validity in its country of origin and suitability for use in a UK setting. These findings support its continued use in UK-based research and professional development initiatives aimed at exploring therapeutic approaches and conceptions of practice.

Keywords: Cognitive interview; Content analysis; Osteopathic medicine; Survey design.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All participants provided informed consent prior to taking part in the study. This study was approved by the School Research Ethics Panel at Health Sciences University (SOC-0325-013). The research was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: OT is an Associate Editor for BMC Health Service Research and the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. He is co-director of the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL). Receives fees for Journal editing, providing osteopathic clinical services; grants, non-financial support and travel reimbursement from University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Health - Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine; speaking/lecture fees from Kookie Learning and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.JDR reports financial support from Osteopathic Foundation; employment with National Council for Osteopathic Research; fees for providing osteopathic clinical services; grants, non-financial support and travel reimbursement from Osteopathy Europe; non-financial support and travel reimbursement from University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Health - Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine; speaking/lecture fees from Kookie Learning and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences; and consulting/advisory fees from College of Health Sciences Fribourg. Co-director of the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL).GM acknowledges non-financial support from the Faculty of Health at the University of Technology Sydney and holds a Visiting Fellowship at the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL). EG reports employment at Plymouth Marjon University; employment as an external examiner for Health Sciences University; and past employment with National Council for Osteopathic Research. SV has received income from private osteopathic practice and the delivery of continuing professional development for physical therapists. He reports employment with Health Sciences University. He serves on the executive committee of the Society for Back Pain Research. He is Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. He has received research funding from osteopathic organisations such as the General Osteopathic Council, The Osteopathic Foundation, Institute of Osteopathy, and the National Council for Osteopathic Research as well as from non disciplinary grant making organisations. He is a member of the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL) .BV reports employment at the University of Melbourne and Edith Cowan University; non-financial support and travel reimbursement from University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Health - Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine; fees for providing osteopathic clinical services. Visiting Fellow of the Centre for Osteopathic Research and Leadership (CORaL).

References

    1. Plunkett A, Fawkes C, Carnes D. Osteopathic practice in the united kingdom: A retrospective analysis of practice data. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(7):e0270806. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Draper-Rodi J, Fawkes C, Bailey D. Development of a National osteopathic Practice-Based research network (PBRN): the NCOR research network. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):26396. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Thomson OP, Petty NJ, Moore AP. Clinical decision-making and therapeutic approaches in osteopathy - a qualitative grounded theory study. Man Ther. 2014;19(1):44–51. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Thomson OP, Petty NJ, Moore AP. A qualitative grounded theory study of the conceptions of clinical practice in osteopathy - a continuum from technical rationality to professional artistry. Man Ther. 2014;19(1):37–43. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Thomson OP, McLeod GA, Fleischmann M, Vaughan B. Therapeutic approaches and conceptions of practice of osteopaths in Australia - a national cross-sectional study and exploratory factor analysis of the Osteo-TAQ. BMC Health Serv Res [Internet]. 2024;24(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11826-y - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources