A branch of medicine that focuses on treating the whole person, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) focus more on preventative medicine than an MD, possess a matching level of education to a traditional physician (MD), can practice in all medical specialties, and offer comprehensive care to their patients.
As in all areas of medical science, research is imperative for advancing the field. Some of the benefits of conducting and publishing research in a medical journal include:
- Becoming a more competitive medical student applicant
- Meeting the training requirements of your residency program and bolstering fellowship applications
- The prestige and respect you can receive from publishing your work
- Furthering the field to help other physicians better care for their patients
- Increase awareness of lesser-known diseases or new treatment options
- A forum to share your professional ideas and experiences
- An opportunity to network and speak about your research at conferences and events
Deciding where to submit your original research for publication can take time, as there are many quality osteopathic medical education journals. Take a look at our selection of some of the most active, well-respected osteopathy journals currently in publication.
The Top Osteopathic Medicine Journals
The AAO Journal
Impact factor: NA
Frequency: 4 issues per year
Overview: This journal aims to honor past accomplishments in the osteopathic community, promote osteopathic tenets, and advance osteopathic research. It supports both scholarly publications and voices in osteopathic thought. The AAOJ publishes the following: original research, case reports, clinical practice, special communications, letters to the editor, and book reviews.
Key features:
- Published by the American Academy of Osteopathy
- Directed toward osteopathic physicians, students, interns, residents, and physicians with a special interest in osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
The DO
Impact factor: .80 (source: Resurchify)
Frequency: Continuous
Overview: The DO publishes news and features about osteopathic medicine. The digital publication is produced by osteopathic physicians and medical students for osteopathic physicians and medical students. The focus of the columns includes advocacy, finances, medical school, and life outside medicine.
Key features:
- Published continuously with the option of receiving a weekly newsletter
- Accessible and timely columns
- Published by American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
Impact factor: 2.271 (source: journal website)
Frequency: 4 issues per year
Overview: The International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine publishes research articles and review papers across a broad array of disciplines. It emphasizes basic science research, clinical epidemiology, and health social science in relation to osteopathy and neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
Key features:
- Aims to provide a forum for discourse and debate
- Uses a blinded review process
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Impact factor: 2.3 (source: journal website)
Frequency: 4 issues per year
Overview: The Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies features therapeutic techniques and current professional debates. Techniques featured include physical therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage therapy, structural integration, Feldenkrais, yoga therapy, dance, physiotherapy, pilates, Alexander Technique, shiatsu and tuina, occupational therapy, Tai chi/qi gong, cranial therapy, neuromuscular therapy, lymph drainage, sports therapy, and applied kinesiology.
Key features:
- Authors can choose open access or subscription
- Covers a wide variety of techniques
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy
Impact factor: 1.425 (source: Sci Journal)
Frequency: 6 issues per year
Overview: The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy publishes research, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and case reports. Specific areas that the journal focuses on include studies focusing on mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT), thrust and non-thrust manipulation, neurodynamic assessment and treatment, diagnostic accuracy and classification, manual therapy-related interventions, clinical decision-making processes, and understanding clinimetrics for the clinician.
Key features:
- Authors can choose open-access
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
Impact factor: NA
Frequency: 12 issues per year
Overview: JOM is an international forum “for the dissemination of scientific literature that incorporates an integrative, comprehensive, patient-centered approach to clinical care and improving health.” The journal covers various medical specialties and clinical settings with the ultimate goal to support, enhance, and advance patient care.
Key features:
- Conducts double-blind peer review of academic research
Osteopathic Family Physician
Impact factor: 0.062 (source: Sci Journal)
Frequency: 6 issues per year
Overview: The OFP aims to help osteopathic family physicians care for patients and improve their practices. Content areas are diverse and include preventive medicine, managed care, osteopathic principles and practices, pain management, public health, medical education, and practice management.
Key features:
- Published by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)
Rowan Osteopathic Medicine Journal
Impact factor: NA
Frequency: Annual
Overview: The ROMJ is a student-led journal that publishes osteopathic and medical research conducted by the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine medical community. The journal publishes basic science, clinical research, quality improvement studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, case series, empathy in medicine, and artwork.
Key features:
- Helps medical students gain research experience
- Published by the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
The Importance of Publishing Medical Research
From pain management to therapies to clinical decision-making, research in medical education journals is vital to focusing on local clinical issues, peer communication, and encouraging critical reading among researchers and clinicians. Publishing your work helps physicians improve their medical practice, can lead to better patient outcomes, help further the field of medicine, and potentially lead to new treatments and lifesaving breakthroughs.
If you know of a high-impact osteopathy education journal that isn’t already on this list and would like us to add it, please email us at [email protected] to let us know.
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