Multidisciplinary perceptions of osteopathy in the Italian hospital context

Background: Osteopathy was formally recognized as a healthcare profession in Italy in 2021, reflecting global trends in healthcare integration. Understanding its role within multidisciplinary hospital care is essential to fostering its integration and maximizing its clinical potential. Aim: This study aimed to assess hospital healthcare professionals' perceptions of osteopathy, its role in multidisciplinary care, and its potential usefulness in Italian hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted using a survey targeted at healthcare professionals. The survey was structured by experts in the field of osteopathy to investigate the perception of other healthcare professions from a multidisciplinary involvement. Results: Out of 327 questionnaires received, 303 were valid for analysis. Most respondents were nurses (76 %), predominantly female (72 %), aged 25–34 (37 %), working across various hospital departments, primarily in Medicine Departments (52 %). Work experience varied, with a moderate prevalence in the 6–12 years category. Notably, 86 % held a favorable opinion of osteopathy, 50 % supported requesting osteopathic consultations, 82 % found collaboration with osteopaths advantageous, 35 % saw the inclusion of osteopaths as highly advantageous, and 47 % found it helpful. Regarding multidisciplinary teams, 49 % viewed osteopathy as beneficial, while 30 % considered it highly beneficial. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals perceive osteopathy as a valuable complementary discipline that enhances multidisciplinary collaboration and patient care. The findings highlight the need for structured protocols, interdisciplinary training, and pilot projects to integrate osteopathy into hospital practice effectively. Future research should focus on standardizing practices and addressing organizational variations to further strengthen osteopathy's role in multidisciplinary healthcare.