Study of Socio-Hygienic Aspects of Osteopathic Healthcare Delivery in Big Cities

Introduction. At the present time osteopathy is considered as a branch of official medicine. The experience accumulated by osteopaths has already proven the effectiveness of this treatment method. In the context of intensive development of the specialty it became necessary to justify scientifically organizational andЕ. Е. Петрова, И. Г. Юшмановmethodological approaches in osteopathic healthcare delivery. In order to do that it is relevant to carry out socio- hygienic analysis of osteopathic healthcare delivery to patients.The object of the researh. To study socio-hygienic aspects of osteopathic healthcare delivery in big cities on the basis of the medical information analysis.Methods. Socio-hygienic and organizational aspects of osteopathic healthcare appealability were studied on the basis of a sample of medical histories of 1 624 patients who received treatment in osteopathic clinics. Every 13th patient card was selected in random manner. The information about each patient was registered in a specially elaborated research protocol. 121 patient cards were examined. In order to hold content-analysis of the information about the clinics declaring osteopathic healthcare delivery in public sources of the Internet, a protocol («Clinic’s passport») for collecting and grouping the data was elaborated. In total 163 sites of clinics were examined.Results. In St. Petersburg 243 medical organizations (including organizations which have branches) and three nonmedical organizations declared osteopathic healthcare delivery. Medical organizations in most cases have osteopath’s consulting rooms (88 %). At the same time in 17,2 % of clinics which declare osteopathic healthcare delivery, there are no osteopaths.Conclusion. In order to regulate the services of osteopathic healthcare delivery it is necessary to establish licensing of osteopathic medical activity.