Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1997; 2: 198
To determine chiropractors’ involvement in and opinions about treatment of patients under 18 years of age.
Cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 144 chiropractors in Alberta, Canada. The mailed questionnaire consisted of structured questions assessing current practice as well as 6 vignettes assessing opinions about treatment of otitis media, wry neck, tension headache, colic, asthma, and health maintenance in these patients.
Fifty-four percent of chiropractors completed the questionnaire. All indicated they treat patients under 18 years of age, however, 9% indicated they do not treat patients age 2 or younger, mainly due to lack of experience. The majority of patients between age 1 and 18 presented with musculoskeletal problems, whereas the majority of those under age 1 presented with non-musculoskeletal problems. The responses regarding the vignettes showed that 10% would treat otitis media, 21% asthma, 48% colic, 84% tension headache and 92% wry neck. Seventy-one percent would provide health maintenance care. However, a little over half of chiropractors indicated they would provide concomitant care for otitis media and asthma.
These data indicate that Alberta chiropractors are primarily treating health problems that are musculoskeletal in nature and, therefore, fall within their scope of practice and treatment. These data also provide a foundation for studies of efficacy of chiropractic treatment of patients under 18 years of age.
