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Innes S, Granger R, Théroux J. Creating and testing a questionnaire to predict immediate and strong positive responders to spinal manipulative therapy for non-specific low back pain. A pilot study. Chiropr Man Therap 2023; 31:40. [PMID: 37752488 PMCID: PMC10523686 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-023-00510-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many chiropractors use spinal manipulative techniques (SMT) to treat spinal pain. A recent Delphi study posited 18 items across five domains as predictors of patients experiencing non-specific low back pain most likely to experience a strong and immediate positive response to SMT. We sought to create a 'pen and paper' questionnaire that would measure these items and then pilot its use in a clinical setting to determine its 'usability' for a larger study. Knowing this information would inform a more efficacious use of SMT. METHOD Of the 18 items identified in the Delphi study, 13 were deemed historical in nature and readily provided by the chiropractor and patient. A literature search revealed reliable and valid measures for two more items. The remaining three items were generated by creating descriptive questions matched to an appropriate Likert scale. A panel of six chiropractors who had used SMT for at least 7 years when treating non-specific low back pain was formed to evaluate the items for clarity and relevance. Ten Western Australian chiropractors were then recruited to pilot the questionnaire on ten consecutive patients with non-specific low back pain where SMT was used from March to June 2020. Ethics approval was obtained from Murdoch University. RESULTS COVID-19 restrictions impacted on practitioner recruitment and delayed the data collection. Of the intended 100 participants, only 63 could be recruited over a 3-month period from seven chiropractors. Time constraints forced the closure of the data collection. The measures of all predictor items demonstrated ceiling effects. Feedback from open-ended practitioner questions was minimal, suggesting an ease of use. CONCLUSION The length of time and level of participation required to collect the calculated sample size was inadequate and suggested that incentivization may be required for a larger investigation. Significant ceiling effects were found and suggested that participants did so because of a positive bias toward chiropractic care and the use of SMT. The questionnaires in this pilot study require alternative measures and further validation before use in a larger study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Innes
- School of Allied Health, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
- Eastern Health, Adult Mental Health Wellbeing Program, Victoria, Australia
| | - Reece Granger
- School of Allied Health, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Jean Théroux
- School of Allied Health, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
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Young KJ, Fitzgerald J, Field J, Newell D, Richards J. A descriptive analysis of the contents of Care Response, an international data set of patient-reported outcomes for chiropractic patients. Chiropr Man Therap 2023; 31:37. [PMID: 37726831 PMCID: PMC10510118 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-023-00509-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Databases have become an important tool in understanding trends and correlations in health care by collecting demographic and clinical information. Analysis of data collected from large cohorts of patients can have the potential to generate insights into factors identifying treatments and the characteristics of subgroups of patients who respond to certain types of care. The Care Response (CR) database was designed to capture patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chiropractic patients internationally. Although several papers have been published analysing some of the data, its contents have not yet been comprehensively documented. The primary aim of this study was to describe the information in the CR database. The secondary aim was to determine whether there was suitable information available to better understand subgroups of chiropractic patients and responsiveness to care. This would be achieved by enabling correlations among patient demographics, diagnoses, and therapeutic interventions with machine learning approaches. METHODS Data in all available fields were requested with no date restriction. Data were collected on 12 April 2022. The output was manually scanned for scope and completeness. Tables were created with categories of information. Descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS The CR database collects information from patients at the first clinical visit, 14, 30, and 90 days subsequently. There were 32,468 patient responses; 3210 patients completed all fields through the 90 day follow up period. 45% of respondents were male; 54% were female; the average age was 49. There was little demographic information, and no information on diagnoses or therapeutic interventions. We received StartBack, numerical pain scale, patient global impression of change, and Bournemouth questionnaire data, but no other PROMs. CONCLUSIONS The CR database is a large set of PROMs for chiropractic patients internationally. We found it unsuitable for machine learning analysis for our purposes; its utility is limited by a lack of demographic information, diagnoses, and therapeutic interventions. However, it can offer information about chiropractic care in general and patient satisfaction. It could form the basis for a useful clinical tool in the future, if reformed to be more accessible to researchers and expanded with more information collected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David Newell
- AECC University College Bournemouth, Bournemouth, UK
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Ziegler AML, Salsbury SA, Maiers M. Discrepant Perceptions of Biopsychosocial and Active Care Recommendations Between Doctors of Chiropractic and Midlife and Older Adult Patients: A Descriptive Survey. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022; 45:623-632. [PMID: 37318390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions about the inclusion of biopsychosocial and active care recommendations during chiropractic clinical encounters between doctors of chiropractic (DCs) and their midlife and older adult patients and to identify whether there were any discrepancies between their recollections. METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional survey was part of a mixed-methods research project designed to gather information about the role of electronic health interventions for midlife and older adults who use chiropractic care. For this study, a convenience sample of 29 DCs and 48 chiropractic patients aged 50 years and older from 2 metropolitan areas in the United States completed online surveys between December 2020 and May 2021. The survey matched questions about components of chiropractic care discussed by patients and providers over 12 months. We used descriptive statistics to explore congruence in perceptions between groups and qualitative content analysis to describe DC perceptions of working with this population. RESULTS Doctors of chiropractic and patients agreed (>90%) that pain management was the top reason midlife and older adults seek chiropractic care, yet differed in their prioritization of maintenance/wellness care, physical function/rehabilitation, and injury treatment as care drivers. While DCs reported frequent discussions about psychosocial recommendations, fewer patients reported talking about treatment goals (51%), self-care (43%), stress reduction (33%), or the impact of psychosocial factors (23%) and beliefs/attitudes (33%) on spinal health. Patients reported varied recollections about discussing activity limitations (2%) and exercise promotion (68%), being taught exercises (48%), or reassessing exercise progress (29%), which differed from higher levels reported by DCs. Qualitative themes from DCs included psychosocial considerations in patient education, importance of exercise/movement, role of chiropractic in lifestyle changes, and reimbursement limitations for older patients. CONCLUSION Doctors of chiropractic and their patients reported discrepant perceptions about biopsychosocial and active care recommendations during clinical encounters. Patients reported modest emphasis on exercise promotion and limited discussion on self-care, stress reduction, and psychosocial factors related to spine health compared to the recollections of DCs who reported frequent discussions of these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Marie L Ziegler
- Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa
| | - Stacie A Salsbury
- Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa.
| | - Michele Maiers
- Center for Research and Innovation, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, Minnesota
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Ivanova D, Bishop FL, Newell D, Field J, Walsh M. Mixed methods systematic review of the literature base exploring working alliance in the chiropractic profession. Chiropr Man Therap 2022; 30:35. [PMID: 36056368 PMCID: PMC9438171 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-022-00442-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The construct of working alliance has been used to operationalise the patient–clinician relationship. Research evidence from the rehabilitation literature has established an association between the construct and several patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic literature review was to study working alliance in the chiropractic discipline. Method This review followed a mixed method systematic review methodology: EBSCO (The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database), EBSCO (MEDLINE), EBSCO PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Chiro index, and grey literature were searched for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies on 17th March 2021. Qualitative appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, version 2018. The qualitative component was synthesised via thematic synthesis and explored patients’ and chiropractors’ perceptions of the nature and role of working alliance. The quantitative component was synthesised via narrative synthesis to examine how the construct has been measured in research and what its effect on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction is. The findings were integrated in the discussion section. Results Thirty studies were included. The qualitative component found that both patients and chiropractors consider working alliance as a key factor in the treatment journey. The findings illustrated that the construct includes the bond between a patient and a chiropractor which is underpinned by trust and attentiveness to patients’ needs, values and preferences. Qualitative data also suggested that strong working alliance has the potential to improve patients’ adherence to treatment and that it is characterised by ongoing negotiation of expectations about the goals of care and the tasks involved in the treatment plan. The quantitative component highlighted that even though working alliance is relevant to the chiropractic discipline, very few studies have quantitatively measured the construct and its effect. Conclusion The findings of this review emphasise the subjective importance of working alliance in the chiropractic clinical encounter. However, there were not enough homogenous studies measuring the effect of working alliance on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction to conduct a meta-analysis. Future research should focus on evaluating potential direct and mediated effects on patient outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12998-022-00442-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dima Ivanova
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Hampshire, UK.
| | - Felicity L Bishop
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Hampshire, UK
| | - Dave Newell
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Hampshire, UK.,Anglo European College of Chiropractic University College, Parkwood Campus, Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2DF, Dorset, UK
| | - Jonathan Field
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Hampshire, UK
| | - Madeleine Walsh
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Hampshire, UK
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The legacy and implications of the body-mind-spirit osteopathic tenet: A discussion paper evaluating its clinical relevance in contemporary osteopathic care. INT J OSTEOPATH MED 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijosm.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Innes S, Beynon A, Hodgetts C, Manassah R, Lim D, Walker BF. Predictors of instanteous relief from spinal manipulation for non-specific low back pain: a delphi study. Chiropr Man Therap 2020; 28:39. [PMID: 32611351 PMCID: PMC7331174 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-020-00324-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is some evidence and anecdotal reports that high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) for non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) may immediately reduce pain in some patients. The mechanism for such a change remains unclear and the evidence is conflicting. The aim of this study was to seek consensus among a sample of expert manual therapists as to the possible clinical predictors that could help identify patients who are most likely to receive instant relief from NSLBP with SMT intervention. Methods Thirty-seven expert chiropractors and manipulative physiotherapists from around the world were invited to participate in a three round online Delphi questionnaire during the second half of 2018. Participants were provided with a list of 55 potential signs and symptoms as well as offering them the option of suggesting other factors in the first round. The variables were rated using a 4-point Likert likelihood scale and a threshold of 75% agreement was required for any item to progress to the next round. Results Of these 37 experts, 19 agreed to participate. Agreement as to the proportion of patients who receive instantaneous relief was minimal (range 10–80%). A total of 62 items were ranked over the 3 rounds, with 18 of these retained following the third round. The highest rated of the 18 was ‘A history including a good response to previous spinal manipulation’. Discussion/conclusion Five categories; patient factors, practitioner factors, signs and symptoms of NSLBP presentation, an instrument of measurement (FABQ), and the presence of cavitation following SMT best describe the overall characteristics of the factors. The 18 factors identified in this study can potentially be used to create an instrument of measurement for further study to predict those patients with NSLBP who will receive instantaneous relief post-SMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Innes
- Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.
| | - Amber Beynon
- Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Christopher Hodgetts
- Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Rachel Manassah
- 5th Year student, Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Denyse Lim
- 5th Year student, Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Bruce F Walker
- Psychology, Exercise Science, Counselling and Chiropractic, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
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Eklund A, Hagberg J, Jensen I, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kongsted A, Lövgren P, Jonsson M, Petersen-Klingberg J, Calvert C, Axén I. The Nordic maintenance care program: maintenance care reduces the number of days with pain in acute episodes and increases the length of pain free periods for dysfunctional patients with recurrent and persistent low back pain - a secondary analysis of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Chiropr Man Therap 2020; 28:19. [PMID: 32316995 PMCID: PMC7171853 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-020-00309-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A recent study showed that chiropractic patients had fewer days with bothersome (activity-limiting) low back pain (LBP) when receiving care at regular pre-planned intervals regardless of symptoms (‘maintenance care’, MC) compared to receiving treatment only with a new episode of LBP. Benefit varied across psychological subgroups. The aims of this study were to investigate 1) pain trajectories around treatments, 2) recurrence of new episodes of LBP, and 3) length of consecutive pain-free periods and total number of pain-free weeks, for all study participants as well as for each psychological subgroup. Methods A secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of patients (n = 319) seeking chiropractic care for recurrent or persistent LBP used 52 weekly estimates of days with bothersome (activity-limiting) LBP. First, a generalized estimating equations analysis was used to compare the pain trajectory before and after the initial treatment in every new treatment period. Thereafter, a time-to-event analysis (using Cox regression) estimated time to/risk of a new LBP episode. The analyses were performed on i) all study participants and ii) separately for each psychological sub-group (named adaptive copers, interpersonally distressed and dysfunctional) classified by the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Results Patients receiving MC had flat pain trajectories around each new treatment period and reported fewer days with pain compared to patients receiving the control intervention. The entire effect was attributed to the dysfunctional subgroup who reported fewer days with activity limiting pain within each new LBP episode as well as longer total pain-free periods between episodes with a difference of 9.8 weeks (CI 95% 3.3, 16.3) compared to the control group. There were no differences in the time to/risk of a new episode of LBP in either of the subgroups. Conclusion Data support the use of MC in a stratified care model targeting dysfunctional patients for MC. For a carefully selected group of patients with recurrent and persistent LBP the clinical course becomes more stable and the number of pain-free weeks between episodes increases when receiving MC. Understanding how subgroups of patients are likely to be affected by MC may help align patients’ and clinicians’ expectations based on realistic outcomes. Trial registration Clinical trials.gov; NCT01539863; February 22, 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Eklund
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jan Hagberg
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irene Jensen
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde
- Institute for Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alice Kongsted
- Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Iben Axén
- Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gíslason HF, Salminen JK, Sandhaugen L, Storbråten AS, Versloot R, Roug I, Newell D. The shape of chiropractic in Europe: a cross sectional survey of chiropractor's beliefs and practice. Chiropr Man Therap 2019; 27:16. [PMID: 31007897 PMCID: PMC6456953 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-019-0237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The chiropractic profession both in the past and presently has diverse opinions concerning different health care approaches and the science or otherwise that underpins them. Previous research has reported that adherence to unorthodox descriptions of chiropractic were associated with types of practice behavior considered outside of acceptable evidence-based guidelines in Canada. However, this type of investigation has not been repeated in a European context and such relationships may be different. Methods A survey was disseminated amongst European chiropractors during early 2017. Dissemination was through an on-line platform with links to the survey being sent to all European chiropractic associations regardless of European Chiropractors’ Union (ECU) membership and additionally through the European Academy of Chiropractic (EAC). Social media via Facebook groups was also used to disseminate links to the survey. Results One thousand three hundred twenty and two responses from chiropractors across Europe representing approximately 17.2% of the profession were collected. Five initial self-determined chiropractic identities were collapsed into 2 groups categorised as orthodox (79.9%) and unorthodox (20.1%). Analysis of responses to a range of questions stratified by such groups was carried out. When comparing the percentage of new patients chiropractors x-rayed, 23% of the unorthodox group x-rayed > 50% of their new patients compared to 5% in the orthodox group. Furthermore, the proportion of respondents reporting > 150 patient encounters per week in the unorthodox group were double compared to the orthodox (22 v 11%). Lastly the proportion of those respondents disagreeing or strongly disagreeing with the statement “In general, vaccinations have had a positive effect on global public health” was 57 and 4% in unorthodox and orthodox categories respectively. Logistic regression models identified male gender, seeing more than 150 patients per week, no routine differential diagnosis, and not strongly agreeing that vaccines have generally had a positive impact on health as highly predictive of unorthodox categorisation. Conclusions Despite limitations with generalisability in this survey, the proportion of respondents adhering to the different belief categories are remarkably similar to other studies exploring this phenomenon. In addition, and in parallel with other research, this survey suggests that key practice characteristics in contravention of national radiation guidelines or opposition to evidence based public health policy are significantly more associated with non-orthodox chiropractic paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Inger Roug
- AECC University College, Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, England, UK
| | - Dave Newell
- AECC University College, Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, England, UK
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