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

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 < 0.01), whereas financial independence (p < 0.01) and perceived professional achievement (p < 0.001) increased. Most osteopaths reported meeting their objectives within five years of practice. Conclusion This first socio‑professional profile of university‑trained osteopaths in Belgium details where graduates practice and how career trajectories evolve across graduation cohorts. While the ULB program fosters integration of osteopaths in multidisciplinary teams, the absence of equivalent university education in the Dutch-speaking regions leads to important regional disparities. These findings may inform stakeholders and policy makers considering future regulation of osteopathic practice in Belgium and other countries.