Introduction
Methods
Survey development
Sample population
-
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
-
Logan University
-
National University of Health Sciences
-
Northwestern Health Sciences University
-
Palmer College of Chiropractic – Davenport campus
-
Palmer College of Chiropractic – Florida campus
-
Palmer College of Chiropractic – West campus
-
Sherman College of Chiropractic
-
Southern California University of Health Sciences
-
Texas Chiropractic College
-
University of Bridgeport
Eligibility criteria
Survey administration
Data analysis
Results
Institution
|
n distributed
|
n completed
|
Response rate (%)
|
---|---|---|---|
1 | 677 | 257 | 38.0 |
5 | 434 | 99 | 22.8 |
3 | 485 | 104 | 21.4 |
10 | 744 | 137 | 18.4 |
2 | 602 | 106 | 17.6 |
6 | 310 | 49 | 15.8 |
9 | 234 | 36 | 15.4 |
8 | 1830 | 263 | 14.4 |
12 | 920 | 93 | 10.1 |
4 | 148 | 14 | 9.5 |
7 | 725 | 53 | 7.3 |
11 | 346 | 21 | 6.1 |
Total
|
7455
|
1247
|
16.7
|
Sex
| n | % |
Male | 668 | 53.6 |
Female | 565 | 45.3 |
Missing | 14 | 1.1 |
Age
| ||
18-25 years | 635 | 50.9 |
26-35 years | 489 | 39.2 |
36-45 years | 91 | 7.3 |
46-55 years | 20 | 1.6 |
55 years and older | 7 | .6 |
Missing | 5 | .4 |
Highest level of education prior to enrollment
| ||
Associate degree | 110 | 8.8 |
Bachelor degree | 1040 | 83.4 |
MA/MS/MPH degree | 63 | 5.1 |
Doctoral degree (Ph.D, EdD, etc.) | 16 | 1.3 |
Missing | 18 | 1.4 |
Professional degrees prior to enrollment
| ||
MD/DO from USA | 4 | .3 |
MD/DO from other country | 6 | .5 |
Other health professional degree (RN, PT, etc.) | 111 | 8.9 |
Other professional degree (JD, etc.) | 59 | 4.7 |
None | 1036 | 83.1 |
Missing | 31 | 2.5 |
Membership in chiropractic organizations
| ||
Student International Chiropractic Association | 94 | 7.5 |
Student American Chiropractic Association | 326 | 26.1 |
Both | 45 | 3.6 |
Neither | 775 | 62.1 |
Missing | 7 | .6 |
Current enrollment status in DC program
| ||
1st year | 394 | 31.6 |
2nd year | 400 | 32.1 |
3rd year | 446 | 35.8 |
Missing | 7 | .6 |
Total | 1247 | 100.0 |
Report having completed a course in evidence-based practice in chiropractic program
| 782 | 63.5 |
Year 1 | 137 | 35.0 |
Year 2 | 265 | 66.4 |
Year 3 | 380 | 86.0 |
SA (%)
|
A (%)
|
N (%)
|
D (%)
|
SD (%)
|
M (%)
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Evidence based practice
| ||||||
It is important for chiropractors to be educated in evidence based practice. | 52.2 | 34.8 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 5.5 |
It is appropriate to allow for updating and enrichment of chiropractic theories based on current scientific advancements. | 47.8 | 39.1 | 5.0 | 2.1 | .8 | 5.3 |
Contemporary and evolving scientific evidence is more important than traditional chiropractic theory | 21.6 | 30.3 | 25.2 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 5.6 |
It is important for chiropractors to hold strongly to traditional chiropractic theories and practices. | 17.4 | 28.4 | 23.5 | 19.0 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
Identity and setting
| ||||||
Chiropractic providers should maintain portal of entry (direct access) status. | 57.2 | 26.2 | 9.1 | 1.3 | .5 | 5.7 |
Inclusion of clinical chiropractic training internships and post-graduate residencies in integrative medical settings is important to the progression of the chiropractic profession. | 39.5 | 29.7 | 12.7 | 7.2 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
Scope of practice
| ||||||
Emphasis of chiropractic intervention is to eliminate vertebral subluxations/vertebral subluxation complexes. | 25.8 | 35.6 | 15.2 | 10.3 | 6.9 | 6.1 |
The primary purpose of the chiropractic examination is to detect vertebral subluxations. | 20.7 | 23.9 | 15.8 | 22.0 | 12.0 | 5.6 |
The chiropractic profession should expand its scope of practice to include prescribing of medication, with appropriate advanced training | 12.9 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 18.8 | 36.4 | 5.5 |
It is appropriate for the chiropractic profession to distinguish and promote two separate subgroups of broad scope (providing manual and other non-drug procedures) and limited scope (providing subluxation correction only). | 10.3 | 20.7 | 26.6 | 21.6 | 15.6 | 5.3 |
Chiropractic intervention should consist of chiropractic adjustment only. | 6.5 | 6.6 | 8.9 | 34.2 | 38.5 | 5.4 |
Doctors of chiropractic should be considered
| n | % |
Complementary/alternative health practitioners | 312 | 25.0 |
Mainstream health care practitioners | 862 | 69.1 |
Missing | 73 | 5.9 |
The most important practice paradigm for the chiropractic profession is
| ||
Subluxation correction only focus | 192 | 15.4 |
Primary spine/musculoskeletal care physician | 585 | 46.9 |
General/Primary care physician | 318 | 25.5 |
Other | 81 | 6.5 |
Missing | 71 | 5.7 |
The most important setting for chiropractic health care is
| ||
Integrated settings with other health care disciplines including allopathic medicine | 354 | 28.4 |
Integrated settings with alternative medicine practitioners only | 51 | 4.1 |
Alone or with other DC’s, without integration with any other health care disciplines | 102 | 8.2 |
Any/all of the above | 670 | 53.7 |
Missing | 70 | 5.6 |
Chiropractic researchers should focus future efforts primarily on
| ||
Physiological mechanisms of chiropractic adjustments | 584 | 46.8 |
Outcomes/cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care | 349 | 28.0 |
Outcomes/cost-effectiveness of integrative care models | 240 | 19.2 |
Missing | 74 | 5.9 |
A (%)
|
N (%)
|
D (%)
| |
---|---|---|---|
Identity and setting
| |||
Chiropractic providers should maintain portal of entry (direct access) status. | |||
Year 1 | 84.7 | 14.0 | 1.3 |
Year 2 | 90.1 | 8.3 | 1.6 |
Year 3 | 90.1 | 7.3 | 2.6 |
Inclusion of clinical chiropractic training internships and post-graduate residencies in integrative medical settings is important to the progression of the chiropractic profession. | |||
Year 1 | 74.3 | 17.9 | 7.8 |
Year 2 | 73.0 | 13.1 | 13.9 |
Year 3 | 72.5 | 9.4 | 18.1 |
Scope of practice
| |||
Emphasis of chiropractic intervention is to eliminate vertebral subluxations/vertebral subluxation complexes. | |||
Year 1 | 67.6 | 17.8 | 14.6 |
Year 2 | 67.2 | 17.1 | 15.7 |
Year 3 | 61.8 | 14.2 | 23.9 |
The chiropractic profession should expand its scope of practice to include prescribing of medication, with appropriate advanced training. | |||
Year 1 | 33.1 | 13.4 | 53.5 |
Year 2 | 22.7 | 15.7 | 61.6 |
Year 3 | 26.9 | 12.9 | 60.2 |
It is appropriate for the chiropractic profession to distinguish and promote two separate subgroups of broad scope (providing manual and other non-drug procedures) and limited scope (providing subluxation correction only). | |||
Year 1 | 37.8 | 29.5 | 32.7 |
Year 2 | 28.4 | 28.1 | 43.5 |
Year 3 | 32.1 | 26.9 | 41.0 |
Chiropractic intervention should consist of chiropractic adjustment only. | |||
Year 1 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 77.7 |
Year 2 | 10.9 | 6.4 | 82.7 |
Year 3 | 18.7 | 10.5 | 70.7 |
Yr 1 (%)
|
Yr 2 (%)
|
Yr 3 (%)
|
Total (%)
| |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctors of chiropractic should be considered
| ||||
Complementary/alternative health practitioners | 25.3 | 23.0 | 30.8 | 26.6 |
Mainstream health care practitioners | 74.7 | 77.0 | 69.2 | 73.4 |
The most important practice paradigm for the chiropractic profession is
| ||||
Subluxation correction only focus | 15.6 | 12.0 | 21.0 | 16.4 |
Primary spine/musculoskeletal care physician | 48.7 | 45.7 | 54.2 | 49.7 |
General/Primary care physician | 29.6 | 34.3 | 18.4 | 27.0 |
Other | 6.2 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 6.8 |
The most important setting for chiropractic health care is
| ||||
Integrated settings with other health care disciplines including allopathic medicine | 25.5 | 34.2 | 30.5 | 30.1 |
Integrated settings with alternative medicine practitioners only | 5.6 | 2.4 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
Alone or with other DC’s, without integration with any other health care disciplines | 7.8 | 6.1 | 11.8 | 8.7 |
Any/all of the above | 61.1 | 57.3 | 52.7 | 56.9 |
Chiropractic researchers should focus future efforts primarily on
| ||||
Physiological mechanisms of chiropractic adjustments | 54.7 | 49.1 | 46.4 | 49.9 |
Outcomes/cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care | 23.8 | 32.3 | 32.7 | 29.8 |
Outcomes/cost-effectiveness of integrative care models | 21.4 | 18.7 | 20.9 | 20.4 |