Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107110

Marie E. Dusio, MS, DC, C/O, P.O. Box 711, Sterling, IL 61081, unlisted, mdmsrn@theramp.net and Lisa Zaynab Killinger, DC, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, 741 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803.

Improved patient outcomes and satisfaction, increased job satisfaction for health care providers, and the potential for reduction of redundancies have all been suggested as benefits of interdisciplinary care. As the health care system continues to grapple with scarce resources and provider shortages, creation of interdisciplinary teams may serve to benefit patients, providers, and payers. The largely uni-disciplinary nature of chiropractic educational and practice environments presents a challenge in providing chiropractic students experience with interdisciplinary care. Perceptions of chiropractic college students regarding appropriate members of interdisciplinary care teams for three different types of aging patients (healthy aging people seeking to improve their health; patients with a neuromusculoskeletal complaint; and patients with a chronic medical diagnosis) were obtained. A convenience sample of predominantly clinical phase student attendees in a chiropractic healthy aging course (n=73) was assessed. There were 63 responses. Professionals who ‘definitely should be included' on interdisciplinary teams for healthy patients included chiropractors, dentists, family practice physicians, and nutritionists or dieticians. Athletic trainers, specialist physicians, neurologists, occupational therapists, and spiritual advisors are considered ‘important' or ‘definitely should be included'. Providers for patients experiencing neuromusculoskeletal complaints ‘definitely should include' chiropractors, although others considered ‘important' or ‘definitely should be included' were athletic trainers, family practice and specialist physicians, neurologists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and spiritual advisors. Chiropractors and specialist physicians were described as ‘definitely should be included' for patients with chronic medical diagnoses. Family practice physicians, neurologists, nutritionists or dieticians, and spiritual advisors are considered ‘important' or ‘definitely should be included'.

Learning Objectives:

• The attendee will be able to list the professionals chiropractic students perceive to be most appropriate interdisciplinary team members in the care of three different types of aging patients.
• The attendee will understand the challenge of providing meaningful educational experiences in interdisciplinary care for chiropractic students, as both the educational system and practice environment are largely uni-disciplinary.
• The attendee will be able to list the professions chiropractic students did not consider essential for membership on interdisciplinary care teams.

Keywords: Aging, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.