Background
Methods
Design
Phase I: quantitative data
Study population and data collection
Variables of interest
Analyses and data management
Phase II: qualitative data
Study population
Recruitment
Data collection
Analyses and data management
Phase III: merging quantitative and qualitative data
Results
Phase I: quantitative results
Missing (%) | Total | |
---|---|---|
n | 238 | |
Age, mean (SD; full range) (n = 237) | 1 (0.4) | 47.4 (14.3; 18–84) |
Sex, female; n (%) | 0 (0) | 124 (52.1) |
Most formal education, n (%) | 22 (9.2) | |
− Primary school 8 to 10 grade | 20 (9.3) | |
− High school | 21 (9.7) | |
− Vocational education | 76 (35.2) | |
− Academic, maximum 4 years | 68 (31.5) | |
− Academic, > 4 years | 31 (14.4) | |
Seen by another healthcare provider for the current problem (yes), n (%) | 9 (3.8) | 102 (44.5) |
− General practitioner, n (%) | 79 (77.5) | |
− Chiropractor, n (%) | 25 (24.5) | |
− Physiotherapist, n (%) | 57 (55.9) | |
Currently taking pain medication for back or leg pain, n (%) | 9 (3.8) | |
− No | 50 (21.8) | |
− Yes, prescription medicine | 108 (47.2) | |
− Yes, over-the-counter medicine | 71 (31.0) | |
> 30 days with LBP during the previous year, n (%) | 14 (5.9) | 99 (44.2) |
> 30 days with leg pain during the previous year, n (%) | 15 (6.3) | 59 (26.5) |
Low back pain, mean (SD) | 1 (0.4) | 6.2 (2.7) |
Leg pain, mean (SD) | 0 (0.0) | 7.0 (2.4) |
Oswestry Disability Index, mean (SD) | 15 (6.3) | 40.0 (18.9) |
Satisfaction with the examination, median (IQR) | 11 (4.6) | 10.0 (2.0) |
Satisfaction with the information, median (IQR) | 14 (5.9) | 9.0 (2.0) |
Satisfaction with the effect of the treatment, median (IQR) | 18 (7.6) | 8.0 (3.0) |
Satisfaction with the overall management, median (IQR) | 11 (4.6) | 9.0 (2.0) |
Phase II: qualitative results
Patient ID | Age in years | Sex | Level of education | The geographical region in Denmark |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 39 | Male | Vocational education | Region Zealand |
2 | 53 | Female | Academic, maximum 4 years | The Region of Southern Denmark |
3 | 55 | Female | Academic, > 4 years | The Capital Region of Denmark |
4 | 44 | Male | Vocational education | The Region of Southern Denmark |
5 | 53 | Male | Vocational education | Central Denmark Region |
6 | 26 | Female | Academic, maximum 4 years | Central Denmark Region |
Understanding of SCCP
Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect
Information about diagnosis and prognosis
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Phase III: joint display
Quantitative results | Qualitative results | ID | |
---|---|---|---|
Question subject
|
Themes
|
Key quotes supporting the theme
| |
Examination
| |||
85% were very satisfied | Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect | I was carefully and thoroughly examined…I think the chiropractor had a good overview after he had examined me. | 6 |
When she [chiropractor] told me that she wanted to see proof of the diagnosis, it made a lot of sense because the more confident she is, the more confident I become. | 3 | ||
15% were less satisfied | Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect | The first consultation lasted 18 min…it gets too hurried. | 2 |
I wonder why I didn’t get that MRI earlier to find out if it was actually a disc herniation… just as a precaution. | 1 | ||
Information
| |||
87% were very satisfied | Information about diagnosis and prognosis | It meant a lot to me that the chiropractor used a chart showing the whole body to explain how it was all related…it gives me a better insight into what is wrong. | 6 |
The chiropractor has been really good at explaining why it took so long…so there has been a really good dialogue. | 1 | ||
13% were less satisfied | Information about diagnosis and prognosis | I had hoped that he [chiropractor] was better at explaining how much it was supposed to hurt… | 2 |
So, I actually get very worried when the chiropractor just says I need to move as naturally as possible… I have not been happy with the chiropractor’s information level and have not always felt that I was in good hands. | 2 | ||
Treatment effect
| |||
52% were very satisfied | Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect | I had an expectation that she [chiropractor] would loosen me up so that I could walk again and get back to work and it has succeeded very well. | 6 |
Getting started with exercises made me get back up from my mental black hole… | 4 | ||
48% were less satisfied | Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect | I was ‘cracked’ once, then we talked, and then I was out the door. Then I thought - okay, how is this going to be better. | 2 |
I was in the acute phase for a long time. It is only within the last month that I feel like it is starting to pay off. | 6 | ||
If I had taken some exercises earlier, I would probably be better off now. | 2 | ||
Overall management
| |||
87% were very satisfied | Interdisciplinary collaboration | It’s important to me that there’s, like, a coordinator of it [the course of treatment] so I do not feel like I’m being thrown back and forth between my GP, physiotherapist and chiropractor. | 3 |
The chiropractor has said that, first, we will try this care package. Alternatively, if I continue to have pain every day, the chiropractor thinks we should talk to a surgeon. | 5 | ||
13% were less satisfied | Interdisciplinary collaboration | I do not have a sense that there has been communication between my doctor and my chiropractor. | 1 |
Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect | I just had no personal chemistry with the chiropractor. We just didn’t get on well, which I think is a good and important thing - that you understand each other. | 2 |