Osteopathic interns' attitudes toward their education and training.

The attitudes of two groups of osteopathic medical interns toward their education are compared. The two groups, referred to as osteopathic ideologists and allopathic ideologists, were selected on the basis of their reported first choice of medical school and internship. The groups differed significantly concerning preparation for and commitment to an osteopathic medical career; adherence to osteopathic tenets; evaluation of quality of education; plans for future training; and career plans. Both groups, however, reported a lack of coherence and integration of osteopathic medical principles and practices in their education. Implications for osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education are discussed.