Student attitudes toward wellness competencies

The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) has established clearly defined wellness competencies. What effect have these competencies had on the student body of one chiropractic college?

Within the college community there was a positive response to embrace the competencies. A wellness committee was formed to support the clinical setting. Clinicians were made aware of the changes through clinic professional training modules and faculty were apprised of the changes through faculty development workshops.

What effect has the addition of these competencies had on a population of students who feel that they have come to this college to learn how to remove vertebral subluxations? At what point in their education do they become aware of these competencies? Where in the curriculum do students learn to “appreciate community-level health care issues and the doctor of chiropractic's role in community health care”?

A discussion of competencies and learning cannot exclude the testing component which is integral to state licensing. During three years of their education our students prepare for four national board exams. Students place major emphasis on these examinations, also affecting student attitudes toward public health education.

This presentation will examine some current student knowledge and attitudes regarding the issues addressed in the CCE wellness competencies. I will share outcomes based on student surveys and focus group sessions.