Practice characteristics of chiropractors in The Netherlands

Abstract

The last published survey of practice characteristics in The Netherlands was undertaken over 10 years ago. Since then, there has been a near threefold increase in the number of registered chiropractors in The Netherlands. A postal survey of all 161 SCN-registered chiropractors in The Netherlands was undertaken to re-evaluate and update the knowledge-base regarding chiropractic practice in this part of Europe. A response rate of 70% was attained. Of the responding chiropractors, 68% were male, the mean age was 38 (S.D.: 9.3) years and 57% were of Dutch nationality. Sixty-one percent graduated from European colleges and one-third had a previous degree. Most (76%) chiropractors were self-employed. A mean of 34 h per week were spent on patient care and 4 h on paperwork. Only 19% had access to their own X-ray facilities. Ten percent shared facilities with other non-chiropractic professionals. New patients had to wait 18 days for a first visit, which lasted a mean of 41 min. Subsequent visits were of 15 min duration. The mean charge for a first visit was 50 Euros, while for a routine visit the fee was 40 Euros. Patients mostly sought chiropractic care on their own initiative. Forty-eight percent of the patients had already had X-rays taken by other health-care professionals. Many of the characteristics of practice in The Netherlands today resemble those of other countries and appear not to have changed substantially over the past 8–10 years. Nevertheless, there would seem to be a marked difference in relation to waiting times for new patients between The Netherlands and other European countries. There also appears to have been a notable change in availability of on-site X-ray facilities in Dutch chiropractic practices.