- Title
- Chiropractic Observation and Analysis Study (COAST): Providing an understanding of current chiropractic practice
- Creator
- French, Simon; Charity, Melanie; Forsdike, Kirsty; Gunn, Jane; Polus, Barbara; Walker, Bruce; Chondros, Patty; Britt, Helena
- Date
- 2013
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/103337
- Identifier
- vital:10899
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.5694/mja12.11851
- Identifier
- ISBN:0025729X
- Abstract
- Objectives: COAST (Chiropractic Observation and Analysis Study) aimed to describe the clinical practices of chiropractors in Victoria, Australia. Design: Cross-sectional study using the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) methods for general practice. Setting and participants: 180 chiropractors in active clinical practice in Victoria were randomly selected from the list of 1298 chiropractors registered on Chiropractors Registration Board of Victoria. Twenty-four chiropractors were ineligible, 72 agreed to participate, and 52 completed the study. Main outcome measures: Each participating chiropractor documented encounters with up to 100 consecutive patients. For each chiropractor-patient encounter, information collected included patient health profile, patient reasons for encounter, problems and diagnoses, and chiropractic care. Results: Data were collected on 4464 chiropractor-patient encounters from 52 chiropractors between 11 December 2010 and 28 September 2012. In most (71%) encounters, patients were aged 25-64 years; 1% of encounters were with infants (age < 1 year; 95% CI, 0.3%-3.2%). Musculoskeletal reasons for encounter were described by patients at a rate of 60 per 100 encounters (95% CI, 54-67 encounters) and maintenance and wellness or check-up reasons were described at a rate of 39 per 100 encounters (95% CI, 33-47 encounters). Back problems were managed at a rate of 62 per 100 encounters (95% CI, 55-71 encounters). The most frequent care provided by the chiropractors was spinal manipulative therapy and massage. Conclusions: A range of conditions are managed by chiropractors in Victoria, Australia, but most commonly these conditions are musculoskeletal-related. These results can be used by stakeholders of the chiropractic profession in workforce development, education and health care policy.
- Relation
- Medical Journal of Australia Vol. 199, no. 10 (2013), p. 687-691
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- Adolescent; Adult; Age distribution; Aged; Child; Chiropractic; Chiropractic practice; Clinical practice; Controlled study; Doctor patient relation; Experimental design; Female; Human; Infant; Major clinical study; Male; Medical service; Musculoskeletal disease; Outcome assessment; Patient assessment; Physician attitude; Preschool child; Professional competence; Professional knowledge; Professionalism; Aged, 80 and over; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Manipulation, Chiropractic; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Professional Practice; Young Adult; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 1103 Clinical Sciences
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