Patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes associated with osteopathic manipulative treatment.

A patient survey was used to measure and explain patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes associated with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Participating in the survey were 459 people who attended an ambulatory OMT specialty clinic from March 1998 through September 1998 and who had received OMT there at least twice previously. Standardized patient satisfaction scores were greatest for overall performance (0.61 +/- 0.29) and interpersonal manner (0.61 +/- 0.24). Satisfaction with finances (0.11 +/- 0.31) was significantly lower than for all other global dimensions of care (P < .001). Subjects perceived OMT to be highly efficacious (0.74 +/- 0.34) and reported significant relief from pain or discomfort (P < .001) and improvement in mobility (P < .001). Of all the respondents, 8.6% attributed an adverse reaction to OMT. Perception of OMT efficacy was significantly associated with all dimensions of patient satisfaction (P values ranged from less than .001 to .003). Relief from pain or discomfort was significantly associated with overall satisfaction (P < .001). Females had greater reduction in pain or discomfort than males (P = .001). Respondents perceived significant community shortages of OMT services through primary care (-0.45 +/- 0.50; P < .001) and specialty (-0.35 +/- 0.54; P < .001) physicians, and reported significant dissatisfaction with insurance coverage for OMT services (-0.09 +/- 0.57; P = .001). These findings suggest the need for greater access to OMT services.