Abstract

The prevalence of adverse events, effectiveness rating and satisfaction of patients attending chiropractic care in a practice-based research network.

Joel Alcantara, DC, Jeanne Ohm, DC, and Joey Alcantara

Objective: To determine the prevalence of adverse events (AEs), effectiveness rating and satisfaction of patients attending chiropractic care in a practice-based research network.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data examining the quality of life, sense of coherence and clinical covariates of chiropractic patients was performed. We examined reported AEs, effectiveness of care (i.e., Likert scale: very satisfied; not very satisfied) and patient satisfaction with the RAND VSQ9 with descriptive statistics.

Results: A convenience sample of 1696 patients (1286 females; mean age=40.68 years) comprised our study population. Mean number of visits was 6.09 (SD=14.47). The prevalence of adverse events was 12.68% (N=215). Indicated AEs were: increased stiffness at site adjusted (N=30;1.77%), stiffness at site different from region adjusted (N=25;1.47%), increased pain/soreness at site adjusted (N=33;1.95%), new pain/soreness at site adjusted (N=107; 6.31%) and experience worsening headaches (N=30;1.77%). The majority (N=1662; 97.99%) rated their chiropractic care as effective. Mean scoring for overall visit satisfaction was 94.90 (SD=13.02). Convenience of office location was rated the least (mean=86.65; SD=21.33) while the interpersonal process of care experienced was rated the highest (mean=95.86; SD=12.57).

Conclusion: Chiropractic patients rated their care as effective, were highly satisfied with indicated AEs as mild.

Highlights of Study

• Chiropractic patients cared for by ICPA DCs indicated high satisfaction with their care.
• Chiropractic patients cared for by ICPA DCs indicated their care as being effective or very effective
• Motivation for chiropractic care was indicated by the majority of responders as a combination of wellness care and symptom care followed by symptom care only and wellness care only.
• This study documents the lowest prevalence of adverse events (i.e., 6.3%) reported by adult patients receiving chiropractic care. In comparison, Swait and Finch (Chiropr Man Therap, 2017) found the prevalence of only mild AEs and ranged from 23% to 83%. From cohorts and RCTs, the investigators found a prevalence for mild AEs of 42% to 67% patients treated with SMT by chiropractors, physiotherapists or osteopaths (Paige et al., JAMA, 2017).

Presented at ACC-RAC 2019: Baltimore, MD Mar 14-16, 2019