The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60519

Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD¹, Cynthia R. Long, PhD², and Dennis Marchiori, DC, MS¹. (1) Division of Graduate Studies, Palmer College of Chiropractic, 741 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803, 563-884-5199, hawkcheryl@aol.com, (2) Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, 741 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803

Traditional chiropractic practice is based on the premise that regular chiropractic care, usually including correction of spinal joint dysfunction and counseling on lifestyle, supports the body’s innate healing capacity. This is referred to as “wellness care” or “maintenance care.” The purpose of this study was to gather preliminary information on the description and components of wellness care from chiropractors and patients participating in a practice-based research program. Self-report questionnaires were administered to participating U.S. chiropractors and their first ten adult established patients presenting during the study period in September 2002. Most of the 72 doctors (72%) reported that they do not differentiate between the terms “maintenance care” and “wellness care,” and include in it spinal adjustments, advice on physical activity and nutrition. The majority of the 686 patients were female (65.9%), white (92.9%), married (62.2%), with a high school diploma as their highest level of education (59.0%) and a mean age of 49.0 years. Of the 686, 28.6% reported that they had “no problem today” and so their office visit that day was for a check-up, spinal health or wellness/maintenance care only; 66.2% reported a pain-related and 4.2% a non-pain-related health concern. Patients reported that their chiropractor provided the following services to them regularly (at least once a month): spinal adjustments (89.5%), advice about exercise (48.7%), nutrition advice about food and supplements (23.6%), and advice about supplements only (13.7%). Of the 106 patients who reported using tobacco (15.5%), 59.4% reported that their chiropractor had discussed quitting with them.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Discuss the practice of chiropractic wellness or maintenance care.
• Identify commonly used procedures in chiropractic wellness care.
• Assess the possible contributions of chiropractic care to national disease prevention and health promotion efforts.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.