Survey of US Chiropractor Attitudes and Behaviors about Subluxation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives This paper provides new information that describes chiropractors' professional identity relative to their concept of in chiropractic practice and education. Methods We performed a pragmatic, descriptive, cross-sectional survey of state-board licensed chiropractors in the US during 2002-03 to assess their attitudes and behaviors about their use of subluxation in practice. We did not define nor specifically operationalize, a priori , the term subluxation, but instead allowed each individual doctor of chiropractic to self-define the concept subluxation in their survey responses. Results Of all US state-board licensed DCs (N=67,217), 5,931 were surveyed. Nearly 50% of those surveyed responded. Many surveyed chiropractors generally agreed that their chiropractic education and clinical approach is subluxation-centered, that the concept of subluxation is important to their clinical care decisions, and that they use the term subluxation when communicating with patients, other healthcare providers, and third-party payors. Discussion/Conclusion Based upon those surveyed, chiropractors seem to embrace subluxation-based terms as well as other clinical approaches to describing their care for chiropractic patients. Understanding the complex nature of chiropractic approaches to health care provision may carry implications for current initiatives to advance evidence-based chiropractic practice and clinical training, enhance successful and comprehensive biopsychosocial management of the multicausal and complex health concerns of chiropractic patients, and improve overall delivery of optimal integrative health care. Further inquiry on this topic should focus methodological and conceptual attention to differentiating how contemporary chiropractors self-define and clinically apply the concept of subluxation.