Training the next generation of chiropractic clinical scientists

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Cynthia R. Long, PhD and William Meeker, DC, MPH. Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, 741 Brady St, Davenport, IA 52803, 563-884-5157, long_c@palmer.edu

We developed a two-year clinical research curriculum for chiropractors that is offered in a graduate program at a chiropractic college. The program targets 4-6 research fellows per year. A minimum of 36 credit hours over 6 consecutive trimesters is required to obtain the MS degree. The program began in the fall of 2003; we have matriculated 10 research fellows and the first graduate completed the program in the fall of 2005. Development of the program was supported through a National Institutes of Health K30 Award. The curriculum includes core and elective coursework, a mentored research experience, an experiential component, and participation in a journal club and clinical research seminar series. Required coursework includes critical appraisal of the literature, clinical research methods, epidemiology, bioethics, data management, biostatistics, scientific writing and presentation, grant writing, and team building. Elective coursework includes special clinical research topics, a biomechanics sequence and neuroscience topics. The mentored research experience involves two practicum projects, each lasting two trimesters. For each project, fellows develop a project plan, implement the project and present the results to their advisory committee. A manuscript is submitted for publication at the completion of most projects. In the experiential component research fellows rotate through several different roles of ongoing clinical research projects at the institution. Our long term program objectives are to develop chiropractors who are trained and mentored in clinical research methods who will, in time, provide the best expertise to most effectively address pressing issues of validity, efficacy, and safety of chiropractic.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1. recognize the need for chiropractors trained in clinical research
2. identify the components of this clinical research curriculum
3. describe possible outcomes resulting from offering formal clinical research training in a CAM research environment

Keywords: Curricula, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Increasing Research Potential in the Profession

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA