Patient Satisfaction With Chiropractic

	Patient Expectations and Levels of Satisfaction in Chiropractic Treatment for Lumbar Radiculopathy. A Mixed Methods Study Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2023 (May 19); 31: 13 ~ FULL TEXT Overall, patients were satisfied with the standardised chiropractic care package for lumbar radiculopathy. From a patient’s perspective, satisfaction was linked to the chiropractor spending time on the consultation and offering a thorough examination, allowing the patient to feel in safe hands. Referral for MRI provided certainty and confidence by confirming the diagnosis. Information and guidance for patients related to variations in symptoms and expected prognosis were reassuring, and the interdisciplinary collaboration coordinated by the chiropractor (with GP, physiotherapist, and hospital referral) was highly valued.
	Chiropractic Care and Quality of Life Among Office Workers With Nonspecific Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study J Chiropractic Medicine 2022 (Sep); 21 (3): 157-167 ~ FULL TEXT World Health Organization Quality of Life short version survey (WHOQoL-BREF) scale scores after chiropractic care (mean ± standard deviation) were 71.21% ± 7.91% (total score), 81.49% ± 14.43% (general health), 80.38% ± 10.49% (physical health), 73.16% ± 11.68% (psychological), 70.41% ± 12.43% (social), and 65.58% ± 10.91% (environment). Numeric Pain Scale scores decreased in a statistically significant way when compared with baseline (P ≤.05). The descriptive statistical analysis of WHOQoL-BREF dimensions revealed that women had significantly higher scores than men, the 18-to-35 age group had higher scores compared with the 50-to-65 age group, and those married had significantly higher scores than those who were not married (P ≤.05).   The findings of our study suggest that chiropractic care had positive effects on the quality of life of office workers.
	Characteristics, Expectations, Experiences of Care, and Satisfaction of Patients Receiving Chiropractic Care in a French University Hospital in Toulouse (France) Over One Year: A Case Study BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022 (Mar 9); 23 (1): 229 ~ FULL TEXT Most participants presented with chronic neck and low back pain and depressive symptoms. We identified facilitators and barriers for patient expectation and satisfaction with chiropractic care in a hospital setting. These will need to be addressed in order to improve our partnership and the satisfaction of our patients. Future study should explore the practitioner’s experience and perspective. This study provides the first data regarding the collaboration between chiropractors and physicians in France. These findings will inform the improvement of our partnership, student’s training and the development of future hospital-based collaborations integrating chiropractic care in a multidisciplinary team.
	Spinal Manipulation vs Prescription Drug Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: Beliefs, Satisfaction with Care, and Qualify of Life Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022 (Mar 26) [EPUB]~ FULL TEXT Among older Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain, long-term recipients of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) had higher self-reported rates of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and greater satisfaction with their modality of care than long-term recipients of PDT. Participants who had longer-term management of care were more likely to have positive attitudes and beliefs toward the mode of care they received.
	What Would it Take to Put a Chiropractor in Khakis? Effecting Chiropractors as Commissioned Officers in the U.S. Military - A Historical Brief Military Medicine 2021 (Jul 31); usab324 ~ FULL TEXT Chiropractic physicians serving within military medicine and veteran health care facilities routinely manage common and complex neurological and musculoskeletal injuries sustained by combat and non-combat servicemen and women. Patient satisfaction with chiropractic services within both the active duty and veteran population is high and routinely sought after. Chiropractic inclusion in the medical corps or medical service corps within the DoD is long overdue.
	Experiences and Attitudes About Chiropractic Care and Prescription Drug Therapy Among Patients With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey J Chiropractic Medicine 2021 (Mar); 20 (1): 1–8 ~ FULL TEXT Patients treated by both DCs and PCPs reported high overall satisfaction with chiropractic care received for low back pain with no significant differences between groups. The majority in both groups reported that seeing a DC for back pain made sense to them (95% of patients treated by a DC and 75% of patients treated by a PCP) whereas the minority reported that taking prescription drugs for back pain made sense (25% of patients treated by a DC and 41% of patients treated by a PCP).
	Ratings of Perceived Effectiveness, Patient Satisfaction and Adverse Events Experienced by Wellness Chiropractic Patients in a Practice-based Research Network Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 (Aug); 36: 82–87 ~ FULL TEXT Wellness patients are predominantly female, rating their care as effective/very effective and with high satisfaction. Adverse events reported were minor (i.e., self-limiting) with a prevalence ranging from 6.3% to 11.3%. Experiencing an AE and the chiropractor providing care had a significant effect on patient satisfaction ratings. We support continued research in characterizing the patterns and utilization of chiropractic services for wellness chiropractic patients.
	Characteristics of Chiropractic Patients Being Treated for Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 (Aug 15) [Epub] ~ FULL TEXT This study provides insight into the characteristics of patients who are successfully managing their chronic low back pain (CLBP) and chronic neck pain (CNP). Findings of this descriptive study of a large sample of chiropractic patients with CLBP or CNP reveal this sample to be similar to those found in other studies of chiropractic patients: highly-educated, non-Hispanic, white women, with at least partial insurance coverage for chiropractic. These individuals have also been in pain and using chiropractic care for years. Most came to chiropractic after trying other types of care, and just under a third continued to receive other concurrent care for their pain. Prior to chiropractic, they saw the best results with massage therapy and acupuncture and reported high levels of belief in the success of chiropractic in reducing their pain.
	The Quality of Life of Children Under Chiropractic Care Using PROMIS-25: Results from a Practice-Based Research Network J Altern Complement Med. 2017 (Dec 20) [Epub] ~ FULL TEXT The original data set consisted of 915 parent-child dyads. After data cleaning, a total of 881 parents (747 females, 134 males; mean age = 42.03 years) and 881 children (467 females and 414 males; mean age = 12.49 years) comprised this study population. The parents were highly educated and presented their child for mainly wellness care. The mean number of days and patient visits from baseline to comparative QoL measures was 38.12 days and 2.74 (SD = 2.61), respectively. After controlling for the effects of motivation for care, patient visits, duration of complaint, sex, and pain rating, significant differences were observed in the probability of experiencing problems (vs. no reported problems) across all QoL domains. Post hoc comparisons demonstrated the children were less likely to report any symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain interference after a trial of chiropractic care.
	The Use of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and the RAND VSQ9 to Measure the Quality of Life and Visit-Specific Satisfaction of Pregnant Patients Under Chiropractic Care Utilizing the Webster Technique J Altern Complement Med. 2017 (Dec 20) [Epub] ~ FULL TEXT A convenience sample of 343 pregnant patients (average age = 30.96 years) comprised their study population. They were highly educated with 75% attaining a 2-year associate's degree or higher. The pregnant patients presented for chiropractic care with a mean week of gestation of 25.67 weeks and parity (i.e., the number of live births) of 0.92 live births. From baseline (i.e., at study entrance with minimum first visit) and comparative (i.e., following a course of chiropractic care), the VSQ9 measurements revealed increasingly high satisfaction on the part of the subjects. The median number of visits (i.e., visits attended) at baseline and comparative measures was 1.00 and 3.30, respectively. Across outcomes, QoL improved from baseline to comparative measurement after holding constant for visit number and time lapse, trimester of pregnancy, and care provider type. There was a reduction in mean T scores associated with fatigue, pain interference, sleep disturbance, and an improvement in satisfaction with social roles. A significant decrease was also found with pain interference. No evidence was found that anxiety or depression.
	Management of Back Pain-related Disorders in a Community With Limited Access to Health Care Services: A Description of Integration of Chiropractors as Service Providers J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017 (Nov); 40 (9): 635–642 ~ FULL TEXT Questionnaire data were obtained from 93 patients. The mean age of the sample was 49.0 ± 16.27 years, and 66% were unemployed. More than three-quarters (77%) had had their back pain for more than a month, and 68% described it as constant. According to the Bournemouth Questionnaire, Bothersomeness, and global improvement scales, a majority (63%, 74%, and 93%, respectively) reported improvement at discharge, and most (82%) reported a significant reduction in pain medication. More than three-quarters (77%) did not visit their primary care provider while under chiropractic care, and almost all (93%) were satisfied with the service. According to the EuroQol 5 Domain questionnaire, more than one-third of patients (39%) also reported improvement in their general health state at discharge. Implementation of an integrated chiropractic service was associated with high levels of improvement and patient satisfaction in a sample of patients of low socioeconomic status with subacute and chronic back pain.
	Patient-centered Professional Practice Models for Managing Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial BMC Geriatr. 2017 (Oct 13); 17 (1): 235 ~ FULL TEXT Professional practice models that included primary care and chiropractic care led to modest improvements in low back pain intensity and disability for older adults, with chiropractic-inclusive models resulting in better perceived improvement and patient satisfaction over the primary care model alone.
	What Do Patients Value About Spinal Manipulation and Exercise for Back-related Leg Pain? A Qualitative Study Within a Controlled Clinical Trial Man Ther. 2016 (Dec); 26: 183–191 ~ FULL TEXT This qualitative study illustrates that patient satisfaction is rooted in the quality of the patienteprovider relationship, although perceived symptom improvements, relevant clinical information about sciatica and its treatment, and the distinct qualities of those treatments are important drivers of satisfaction for patients who received non-pharmacological treatments for their back-related leg pain. Global measures of satisfaction may not adequately represent the range of patients' experiences and perceptions of spinal manipulative therapy or home exercise. In addition to providing insight to the quantitative results of the parent trial, these findings suggest that tailored interventions to enhance patienteprovider relationships may facilitate compliance and enhance satisfaction with care.
	Integration of Chiropractic Services in Military and Veteran Health Care Facilities: A Systematic Review of the Literature J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2016 (Apr); 21 (2): 115–130 This literature review examined studies that described practice, utilization, and policy of chiropractic services within military and veteran health care environments. A systematic search of Medline, CINAHL, and Index to Chiropractic Literature was performed from inception through April 2015. Thirty articles met inclusion criteria. Studies reporting utilization and policy show that chiropractic services are successfully implemented in various military and veteran health care settings and that integration varies by facility.
	First-Contact Care With a Medical vs Chiropractic Provider After Consultation With a Swiss Telemedicine Provider: Comparison of Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Care Costs in Spinal, Hip, an Shoulder Pain Patients J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015 (Sep); 38 (7): 477–483 ~ FULL TEXT JMPT's Editor-in-Chief Claire Johnson, DC, MEd, emphasized the importance of the latest findings: “Comparative studies – in other words, research that compares the outcomes between two different providers or modalities – are rare for chiropractic care,” she said.   “Thus, this study by Houweling, et al., is especially important if payers and policy-makers are to better understand the 'triple aim' as it relates to chiropractic. Specifically, this study helps us better understand what type of care provides better patient satisfaction, is more cost effective, and improves population health.”
	A Survey of Parent Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care of the Pediatric Patient J Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 2014 (Nov); 14 (3): 1167–1171 ~ FULL TEXT This study showed that parents generally were very satisfied with chiropractic care of their child. Correlations between high satisfaction and improvement of the infant’s presenting complaint, improved sleep quality, and lower levels of parental distress were observed.
	Exploring Patient Satisfaction: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Spinal Manipulation, Home Exercise, and Medication for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014 (Sep 5); 37 (8): 593–601 ~ FULL TEXT Neck pain is one of the most commonly reported health complaints in primary care settings. [1, 2] As concern for costs and side effects related to treating spinal pain conditions continues to grow, the search for effective, patient-centered treatments has become paramount. Patient satisfaction has become a widely advocated means for measuring patients' preferences and views related to treatment quality in clinical practice. [3] Furthermore, it is recommended as a core outcome domain for chronic pain clinical trials by the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials group. [4]
	Symptomatic Reactions, Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Associated with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Prospective, Multicenter, Cohort Study BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011 (Oct 5); 12: 219 ~ FULL TEXT A total of 1,090 patients completed the study having 4,920 (4.5 per patient) office visits requiring 2,653 (2.4 per patient) upper cervical adjustments over 17 days. Three hundred thirty- eight (31.0%) patients had symptomatic reactions (SRs) meeting the accepted definition. Intense SR (NRS ≥8) occurred in 56 patients (5.1%). Outcome assessments were significantly improved for neck pain and disability, headache, mid-back pain, as well as lower back pain and disability (p <0.001) following care with a high level (mean = 9.1/10) of patient satisfaction. The 83 chiropractors administered >5 million career upper cervical adjustments without a reported incidence of serious adverse event.
	The Trials of Evidence: Interpreting Research and the Case for Chiropractic The Chiropractic Report (July 2011) ~ FULL TEXT For the great majority of patients with both acute and chronic low-back pain, namely those without diagnostic red flags, spinal manipulation is recommended by evidence-informed guidelines from many authoritative sources – whether chiropractic (the UK Evidence Report from Bronfort, Haas et al. [1]), medical (the 2007 Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society [2]) or interdisciplinary (the European Back Pain Guidelines [3]).
	Patients in Medicare Demonstration Project Give Their Chiropractors High Marks ACAOnline report of HHS's Final Demonstration Progect Report When asked to rate their satisfaction on a 10-point scale: 87 percent of patients in the study gave their doctor of chiropractic a level of 8 or higher, and 56 percent of those patients rated their chiropractor with a perfect 10.
	Consumer Reports Lists Chiropractic Patients As Most Satisfied Consumer Reports (May 2009) A study in the May issue of Consumer Reports shows that hands-on therapies were tops among treatments for relief of back pain. The study, which surveyed more than 14,000 consumers, was conducted by the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. The report states that, “eighty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were ‘completely’ or ‘very’ satisfied with their chiropractor.”
	Chiropractic Services in the Canadian Armed Forces: A Pilot Project Military Medicine 2006 (Jun); 171 (6): 572–576 This article reports on satisfaction associated with the introduction of chiropractic services within a military hospital, through a Canadian Armed Forces Pilot Project. We distributed a 27-item survey that inquired about demographic information and satisfaction with chiropractic services to 102 military personnel presenting for on-site chiropractic services at the Archie McCallum Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The majority of military personnel (94.2%) and referring physicians (80.0%) expressed satisfaction with chiropractic services.
	Factors Associated With Patient Satisfaction With Chiropractic Care: Survey and Review of the Literature J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2006 (Jul); 29 (6): 455–462 ~ FULL TEXT The results here generally confirm the findings elsewhere in the literature. Of the 23% of the adult population who have ever visited a chiropractor, overall rates of satisfaction are once again found to be quite high (83% satisfied or better) and the number dissatisfied is quite low (less than 10% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied). This is remarkable given the fact that much of the financial burden of the care is borne by patients, and the preponderance of care is for difficult chronic problems of back and neck.
	Symptomatic Outcomes and Perceived Satisfaction Levels of Chiropractic Patients with a Primary Diagnosis Involving Acute Neck Pain J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2006 (May); 29 (4): 288–296 ~ FULL TEXT A total of 115 patients were contacted, of whom 94 became study participants, resulting in 60 women (64%) and 34 men. The mean age was 39.6 years (SD, 15.7). The mean number of visits was 24.5 (SD, 21.2). Pain levels improved significantly from a mean of 7.6 (median, 8.0) before treatment to 1.9 (median, 2.0) after treatment (P < .0001). The overall patient satisfaction rate was 94%.
	History and Overview of Theories and Methods of Chiropractic: A Counterpoint Clin Orthop Relat Res 2006 (Mar); 444: 243–249 ~ FULL TEXT As of 2002, 43 randomized trials of spinal manipulation for low back pain had been published with 30 showing more improvement than with the comparison treatment, and none showing it to be less effective. Other studies have shown that chiropractic care compared with medical care is safer, costs no more and often costs much less, and has consistently greater patient satisfaction for treatment of similar conditions.
	Back Pain and Satisfaction with Chiropractic Treatment: What Role Does the Physical Outcome Play? Clin J Pain 2005 (Jul); 19 (4): 263–268 Patients were asked about effects on pain, anxiety, normal activity, work, depression, lifestyle, satisfaction, and overall improvement. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the contribution of change scores to overall improvement and satisfaction. There are initial indications in the literature that information giving, and the reconfiguration of patients' perceptions of the problem, may contribute to patient satisfaction generally.