An article co-authored by UTS Research Fellows Barbara Beacham and Eleanor Oyston, together with ARCCIM:UTS Distinguished Professor Jon Adams and Dr Amie Steel, has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies.
The paper is titled Characteristics of Bowen therapy practitioners and practice in Australia: An exploratory secondary analysis of the practitioner research and collaboration initiative (PRACI) practice-based research network. A summary is printed below.
Introduction
Bowen Therapy (BT) is a non-invasive manual therapy used to treat muscle pain and discomfort, poor flexibility
and imbalances in the body’s tissues. Globally, the BT profession comprises a small, but widely dispersed, network of practitioners. While a small pool of preliminary clinical research has begun to investigate the effectiveness of BT for a range of conditions, the investigation of the practice of BT remains extremely limited.
Methods
This study employs secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional workforce survey of complementary medicine
practitioners, to describe the characteristics of BT professionals and their practices in Australia. The study sampled data collected from individuals with qualifications in Bowen Therapy involved in the Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results
Study participants (n = 80), primarily female (71.3%) and with a mean age of 52.9 years, reported commonly using a
range of assessment tools, discussing a range of health topics with their clients, and using diverse manual therapy techniques in their practice. Participants most commonly reported consulting with clients reporting stress (84.9%),
neck pain (75.0%) and sciatica (66.0%). Participants reported treating middle aged (93.4%) and older people
(63.3%) most frequently.
Discussion and conclusion
Bowen Therapists provide care to a range of clients experiencing a number of conditions and symptoms. Further research should explore the rich details and establish the outcomes of BTs’ care with a view to helping inform safe, effective, coordinated patient care across the wider primary care team.
How to access the full study
The full study can be purchased online for a fee here.