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Twenty years of university-graduated osteopaths in Belgium: A cross-sectional survey

Author

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  • David Zarka
  • Christian Denaeyer
  • Ludivine Lahaeye
  • Walid Salem
  • Ana Bengoetxea

Abstract

Background: In 2004, the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB, Belgium) launched Europe’s first comprehensive university‑based osteopathy program, a six‑year curriculum intended to set an international standard for training osteopaths in the primary care management of functional musculoskeletal pain and disorders. This study describes the socio‑professional profile of ULB‑trained osteopaths in Belgium by graduation cohort. Methods: All contactable ULB graduates (n = 277; 83.9%) were invited to complete a voluntary, online cross‑sectional survey (49 items) disseminated via cohort‑personalized institutional emails between February and April 2024. Descriptive statistics were produced, and associations with time since graduation were examined. Results: A total of 156 graduates responded (56.3%), of whom 148 (94.9%) reported currently practicing as osteopaths. Respondents were predominantly female (60.9%) and aged 25–34 years (77.5%). Most practiced in French‑speaking Belgium (75.5%), while 17.6% worked abroad. The majority were full‑time self‑employed (92.6%), working in private offices (66.7%) and in multidisciplinary settings (68.6%), including private (53.2%) and public (15.4%) institutions. With increasing time since graduation, the number of concurrent workplaces decreased (p

Suggested Citation

  • David Zarka & Christian Denaeyer & Ludivine Lahaeye & Walid Salem & Ana Bengoetxea, 2026. "Twenty years of university-graduated osteopaths in Belgium: A cross-sectional survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 21(10), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0359658
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0359658
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