Psoas syndrome: a frequently missed diagnosis.

Psoas syndrome is an easily missed diagnosis. However, it is important to consider this condition as part of the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with low back pain--particularly for osteopathic physicians, because patients may view these practitioners as experts in musculoskeletal conditions. The authors describe the case of a 48-year-old man with a 6-month history of low back pain that had been attributed to "weak core muscles.

Spirituality and medicine: prevalence of spirituality-in-medicine instruction at osteopathic medical schools.

Context: Since the 1990s, there has been a heightened awareness of the value of teaching medical students about how aspects of spirituality and religion may affect patient care.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of spirituality-in-medicine instruction at colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) in the United States.

Methods: Prescreened subjects at 20 COMs were contacted by electronic mail and asked to complete a 25-item Web-based survey.

CAM education: promoting a salutogenic focus in health care.

Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education has created a focus that not only brings awareness of various CAM therapies to conventional medical education but also highlights how these therapies can bring insight toward improved health care.

Methods: A survey of CAM educational leaders at institutions awarded grants for incorporating CAM education into medical curricula was performed to address how CAM education can improve health care delivery in America.

Results: Five (5) core themes were noted to be successful in achieving this goal.

Musculoskeletal disorders: does the osteopathic medical profession demonstrate its unique and distinctive characteristics?

The authors used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 1999 Summary to compare the practice patterns of osteopathic and allopathic physicians in the management of musculoskeletal disorders in family practice settings. Patient and physician characteristics, diagnostic test ordering patterns, treatments, and amount of time spent with patients during visits were compared. Patients who visited osteopathic physicians were more likely to be middle-aged and referred, with injury-related visits that were self-paid.