The Council on Chiropractic Education's new wellness standard: a call to action for the chiropractic profession (original) (raw)
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Chiropractic care is among the more commonly used Complementary and Alternative Medical (CAM) therapies. Spinal co-morbidities include many of the most common causes of premature death and disability. Health promotion and disease prevention have been used in the profession and taught in educational settings but not yet fully embraced in usual practice. This manuscript reviews areas in which health promotion has been emphasized in chiropractic education along with instances in which health behavior theories (HBTs) have been applied. Chiropractic clinical and educational programs should consider application of HBTs to move clinicians and interns forward regarding better advising roles with patients related to prevention and health promotion.
Journal of Chiropractic Education, 2010
To retrospectively review patient files in two teaching clinics in the United States and to assess the documented attempts to deliver health promotion messages when a chart indicated a need for health promotion or a red-flag condition that could be helped with positive behavioral changes. Methods: Approximately 100 patient files were randomly selected from each of two separate chiropractic teaching clinics, for patients seen after January 2007. Files were assessed for pertinent family history of diseases, personal medical history, and red-flag conditions of patients that would warrant intervention with health promotion. Results: Health promotion advice on at least one occasion was noted in 108 (53.7%) patient charts. Only 7 of 98 overweight or obese patients and none of those with family history of obesity were advised on weight management. Among 23 hypertensive patients, only 5 were advised and 17 of the 97 patients with risk of cardiovascular disease were advised. Conclusion: Chiropractic teaching clinics should assess what they are doing to help Americans reach their health goals. There is an opportunity to shape future practitioners so they include primary prevention as a part of what they do if the profession cares to move in that direction. Future research should look at mechanisms of delivery for health promotion, including better tracking of patients who need it and how staff doctors are trained to deliver oversight to interns in the area of primary prevention. (J Chiropr Educ 2010;24(2):159-164)
A Survey of US Chiropractors on Clinical Preventive Services
J Manip Physiol Ther, 2004
Objective: To assess attitudes of current chiropractic students, public health faculty, and practitioners toward the topics of clinical preventive and health promotion services. Design and Population: Survey of samples of students and faculty at 10 US chiropractic colleges and random sample of US chiropractors stratified by zip code region using proportional allocation. Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics were computed for all 3 samples and statistical modeling was used to explore relationships between practitioner characteristics and their responses concerning counseling on health indicators. Results: A total of 582 students, 45 faculty, and 496 practitioners were surveyed; the response rate for practitioners was 27%. Over 80% of practitioners reported providing information to patients on musculoskeletal risk reduction, exercise, diet, stress reduction, and injury prevention. Over 80% also reported obtaining information from patients on physical activity, stress, dietary habits, obesity, medication use, and occupational hazards. Concerning immunization information, a much higher proportion of faculty (91%) and students (80%) than practitioners (62%) felt chiropractors should provide both pro and con information to patients. In general, female, younger, and more recently graduated practitioners appeared to be somewhat more likely to agree that chiropractors should provide counseling and to report providing it. An association was seen between attitudes toward health indicator counseling and respondent education. Practitioners with at least a bachelor's degree were statistically significantly more likely to report providing counseling for physical activity and to agree that chiropractors should provide counseling and to report actually providing counseling within the last month for substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, and injury and violence prevention (P < .05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of the US chiropractors and students who completed our survey, as well as a number of key faculty, have a positive attitude toward providing clinical preventive services, particularly those related to physical activity and diet. However, the results also suggest that there may be areas where chiropractic training is not consistently meeting the newly established national guidelines for clinical preventive services.
A survey of Alabama chiropractors regarding health promotion, primary prevention, and primary care
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) perform health promotion as part of routine practice. In addition, the regulating body for chiropractic educational institutions has a standard in place on the teaching of this subject matter in all accredited colleges. The largest chiropractic professional organization in the U.S. (the American Chiropractic Association) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges also have position statements supportive of prevention and health promotion as part of practice. However, very little is known as to whether practicing chiropractors have the aptitude, willingness, competence or the infrastructure to appropriately address primary preventive issues with patients. Additionally, little is known regarding attitudes and beliefs among DC's in different regions of the country and whether demographic and cultural norms will affect the ability to meet the accrediting agency's charge.
Chiropractic and Public Health: Current State and Future Vision
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2008
This article provides an overview of primary chiropractic issues as they relate to public health. This collaborative summary documents the chiropractic profession's current involvement in public health, reflects on past barriers that may have prevented full participation within the public health movement, and summarizes the relationship of current chiropractic and public health topics. Topics discussed include how the chiropractic profession participates in preventive health services, health promotion, immunization, geriatrics, health care in a military environment, and interdisciplinary care.
Implementation of a Course on Wellness Concepts Into a Chiropractic College Curriculum
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2005
The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate a course on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;wellness concepts&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; for chiropractic students, emphasizing national goals and evidence-based practices for health promotion and prevention. Teaching methods included traditional lecture discussions and experiential activities, including objectives described in Healthy People 2010. Evaluation included pre- and posttests of students&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; familiarity with and intention to use key concepts, resources, and practices; item analysis of multiple choice exams; and a qualitative survey. Increases in students&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; self-reported familiarity were statistically significant for all but 2 of the 23 key topics assessed. At baseline, students already expressed intention to use most wellness-related practices listed, and showed significant increases for approximately half the practices listed at the posttest. Item analysis found students less able to correctly answer questions requiring analytic thinking than simple memorization. Students were most satisfied with the experiential portions of the course. Although the course was successful at introducing students to national resources and initiatives related to wellness, health promotion, and prevention, these concepts may be more meaningful if integrated into a teaching clinic that encouraged practical application of course concepts.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2011
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the familiarity with and stated advocacy of Healthy People 2010 objectives by member doctors of the Mississippi Chiropractic Association. Methods: Peer experts established face validity of a questionnaire regarding the Leading Health Indicators. This survey was distributed to 157 Mississippi Chiropractic Association members in 2009 during a conference and a follow-up by postal mail. Results: Most doctors of chiropractic in the sample (n = 68, or 43% response) consider themselves wellness-oriented health care providers. Forty-two percent had read, 29% had not read, and another 29% were unsure whether they had read the Healthy People 2010 national objectives. Almost half (44%) strongly or somewhat agreed that their office practice reflects support for the Healthy People 2010 objective. In contrast, 27% disagree and 29% were unsure if their practice reflects the Healthy People 2010 objectives. There were differences between support and practice behaviors for some of the objectives. Chiropractors who have read the objectives tend to be more supportive of the national goals. Doctors of chiropractic in this sample are supportive of most Leading Health Indicators, and the majority reports that they incorporate these public health goals into their practices. Conclusion: Familiarity with reading the Health People objectives seems to be related to reported practice behaviors. There is a need to improve the percentage of practicing doctors of chiropractic who are familiar with Healthy People objectives. Future health education initiatives may assist doctors of chiropractic in further incorporating public health objectives into their practice behaviors and improving quality health care. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011;34:394-406)
The Journal of chiropractic education, 2014
Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare demographics and chief complaints of the new patient population at our institution's fee-for-service clinics to the patient population of practicing chiropractors in the United States. We also compared the prevalence of obesity and hypertension to reference standards for the adult population. Methods : Patient data were obtained from the electronic health records. All records identified as new patients during October 2013 were included. Variables of interest were clinic site, patient demographics, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), chief complaint, and ICD-9 codes. Descriptive statistics were computed and compared to reference standards from previous reports. Results : During October 2013, there were 224 new patients that entered the clinics. The average patient was a 31- to 50-year-old white male. Our clinic patients differed from those seen by US chiropractors in the distribution of all demographic variables. For adult p...