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.
