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Patients Using Chiropractors In North America:
Who are They, And Why Are They In Chiropractic Care?
Coulter ID, Hurwitz EL, Adams AH, Genovese BJ, Hays R, Shekelle PG.
Spine 2002 Feb 1;27(3):291-8
Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service, Los Angeles,
California.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA AND OBJECTIVES: Alternative health care was used
by an estimated 42% of the U.S. population in 1997, and chiropractors accounted
for 31% of the total estimated number of visits. Despite this high level of
use,
there is little empirical information about who uses chiropractic care or why.
METHODS: The authors surveyed randomly sampled chiropractors (n = 131) at
six study sites and systematically sampled chiropractic patients seeking care
from
participating chiropractors on 1 day (n = 1275). Surveys collected data about
the patient's reason for seeking chiropractic care, health status, health
attitude and beliefs, and satisfaction. In addition to descriptive statistics,
the authors
compared data between patients and chiropractors, and between patients and
previously published data on health status from other populations, corrected
for the clustering
of patients within chiropractors.
RESULTS: More than 70% of patients specified
back and neck problems as their health problem for which they sought chiropractic
care. Chiropractic patients had significantly worse health status on all
SF-36 scales than an age- and gender-matched general population sample. Compared
with medical back pain patients, chiropractic back pain patients had significantly
worse mental health (6-8 point decrement). Roland-Morris scores for chiropractic
back pain patients were similar to values reported for medical back pain
patients.
The health attitudes and beliefs of chiropractors and their patients were
similar. Patients were very satisfied with their care.
CONCLUSION: These
data support
the theory that patients seek chiropractic care almost exclusively for
musculoskeletal symptoms and that chiropractors and their patients share
a similar belief
system.
PMID: 11805694 [PubMed - in process]
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