Use of complementary healthcare practices among chiropractors in the United States: A survey

Context Although chiropractic is the most commonly used complementary healt hcare practice chiropractors have not been surveyed in depth about their at titudes toward and practice of complementary and alternative therapies a pa rt from spinal manipulation. Objectives To examine attitudes among US chiropractors on the role of their profession in complementary healthcare and to gather data on the types of complementary healthcare practices chiropractors use. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional study using a mail-in survey. Setting United States. Participants Random sample of US chiropractors stratified by zip cone regio n. Results A fetal of 563 surveys were completed,fora response rate of 30%. Re spondents were almost equally divided on their responses to the question "D o you feel that chiropractic should at the present time be termed 'compleme ntary'?" Although many respondents (68%) believed that chiropractic was vie wed as a therapeutic mortality, more (82%) believed that it should be viewe d as a complete system. The therapies most commonly used by respondents in their practice were acupressure (72%), massage (72%), mineral supplements ( 63%), and herbs (56%). Conclusion The disparity between the established view of chiropractic as sy nonymous with spinal manipulation and the profession's view of chiropractic as a complete system indicates a need for better interprofessional communi cation.