Clinical Resources

Osteopaths New Zealand (ONZ) is excited to announce the launch of a nationally significant pilot study focused on integrating Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) into osteopathic practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.

PROMs are internationally validated tools that enable patients to share their experiences of care, the impact on their daily lives, and their quality of life following treatment. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR UK), Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC), and RMIT University, brings global best practice to our local clinical landscape.

Why This Matters

• Centres Patient Voice: PROMs capture outcomes that matter to patients, aligning with ONZ and OCNZ’s shared vision for person-centred, culturally responsive care.

• Builds Trust: Demonstrating patient outcomes through PROMs supports public confidence and transparent, evidence-informed regulation.

• Strengthens the Profession: PROMs provide rich insights for clinical reflection, professional learning, and national advocacy efforts.
  
  

What the Study Involves

• 5–6 clinics will trial PROMs tools including the Bournemouth Questionnaire and EQ-5D-5L across 30 anonymised patient cases.

• Data will be collected pre- and post-treatment, with patient and clinician feedback to assess usability.

• Findings will shape recommendations for a future national PROMs system that honours Māori data sovereignty and reflects our diverse communities.
  
  

Strategic Alignment

This initiative directly supports ONZ’s 2030 vision to:

• Promote osteopathy by demonstrating effectiveness and value to the public.

• Support members with meaningful tools for reflection and continuous development.

• Unite the profession around shared evidence and purpose.

Next Steps

We’ll soon be inviting expressions of interest from clinics wishing to participate in the pilot. In the meantime, we encourage members to start considering how they might engage with this research and its outcomes.

If you have questions or wish to express early interest, please contact:

Anj Young, Chair – [chair@osteopathsnz.co.nz]
Kesava Kovanur Sampath, Research Chair – [research@osteopathsnz.co.nz]

Together, let’s lead the way in making the patient voice central to osteopathic care in Aotearoa.