Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values of Italian Osteopaths Toward the Management of Patients With Tension-Type Headache: A Categorical Content Analysis.

Objective: Tension-type headache (TTH) is among the 20 leading causes of disability worldwide. Due to the difficulty in diagnosis and the variable association of other symptoms, the management of this clinical condition is often unsatisfactory. Osteopathic manipulative treatment combined with exercise, diet, and general relaxation therapies may be valid for TTH. This study investigated osteopaths' common attitudes, beliefs, and values when treating and managing individuals experiencing TTH.

Methods: This is a qualitative study using thematic analysis with elements of grounded theory. Osteopaths with expertise in treating patients with primary headache conditions were recruited through purposive sampling methods. Data were gathered from individual, semistructured interviews and transcribed verbatim and then analyzed through thematic analysis. Ten osteopaths who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.

Results: Four main themes were generated from data analysis: (1) osteopathy and its alternative perspective on patients' perception of osteopathic intervention; (2) osteopaths' clinical decision making regarding the selection of treatment approaches; (3) the person's management through an individualized case treatment model; (4) a person-centered approach, setting the treatment in a particular environment to achieve the fulfillment of an individual's potential.

Conclusion: The present study highlights that this sample of osteopaths endorse a person-centered renewed approach. The participants regularly assess the clinical conditions and disabilities associated with TTH to tailor their treatment approach. These osteopaths consider that these tailored treatment approaches directed at improving and promoting the individual's wellbeing alongside a reduction of their symptoms should be the main aim of osteopathic treatment.