Observational studyBMJ open2019
Understanding patient profiles and characteristics of current chiropractic practice: a cross-sectional Ontario Chiropractic Observation and Analysis STudy (O-COAST).
Observational study in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Agreement and concurrent validity between telehealth and in-person diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2024Pooled it
- The global summit on the efficacy and effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy for the prevention and treatment of non-musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of the literature.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2021Pooled it
- The profile of young people seeking chiropractic care: a secondary analysis of data.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2026Observational
- Characteristics of interprofessional collaboration between physicians and chiropractors within Québec multidisciplinary clinics: a mixed-methods study.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2026Article
- Force-time characteristics of hip high velocity, low amplitude manipulation in asymptomatic adults: with and without a drop piece.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2026Article
- Routine medical care for adults with musculoskeletal disorders in the Indigenous community of Pimicikamak, northern Manitoba before and after implementing the Global Spine Care Initiative model: a retrospective chart review with a 10-month post-implementation window: A collaborative research project between World Spine Care Canada (WSCC), Pimicikamack Okimawin, and Cross Lake Nursing Station.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2025Article
- An explanatory mixed methods study assessing Canadian chiropractors' attitudes and orientation toward patient-centred care.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Article
- Contemporary profiles and professional activities of French chiropractors: a national survey.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Article
- Nociplastic pain: an introduction.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2025Article
- Patient self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms before and after the interruption of chiropractic care during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ontario, Canada: a retrospective case series.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2025Article
- Differences in demographics and clinical outcomes in older, middle-aged, and younger adults with low back pain receiving chiropractic care.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Observational
- The role of force-sensing devices in spinal manipulative therapy research, education, and clinical practice.The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association · 2025Article
- Chiropractic international research collaborative (CIRCuit): the development of a new practice-based research network, including the demographics, practice, and clinical management characteristics of clinician participants.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Article
- Critical Evaluation of the 2016 SOSORT Clinical Guidelines on the Detection and Clinical Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the AGREE II Tool: A Chiropractic Perspective.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2024Article
- A Survey on Variables Influencing a Patient's Preferences in Choosing Their Chiropractor in Klang Valley, Malaysia.Journal of chiropractic humanities · 2024Article
- What's the harm? Results of an active surveillance adverse event reporting system for chiropractors and physiotherapists.PloS one · 2024Article
- Patient and provider characteristics associated with therapeutic intervention selection in a chiropractic clinical encounter: a cross-sectional analysis of the COAST and O-COAST study data.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2023Article
- Observational
- Effects of chiropractic use on medical healthcare utilization and costs in adults with back pain in Ontario, Canada from 2003 to 2018: a population-based cohort study.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Chiropractic pediatric patient management and interdisciplinary collaboration: a descriptive cross-sectional study of chiropractors in Quebec.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThere is no current detailed profile of people seeking chiropractic care in Canada. We describe the profiles of chiropractors' practice and the reasons, nature of the care provided to their patients and extent of interprofessional collaborations in Ontario, Canada.
designCross-sectional observational study.
settingPrimary care setting in Ontario, Canada.
participantsWe randomly recruited chiropractors from a list of registered chiropractors (n=3978) in active practice in 2015. Of the 135 randomly selected chiropractors, 120 were eligible, 43 participated and 42 completed the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Each chiropractor recorded information for up to 100 consecutive patient encounters, documenting patient health profiles, reasons for encounter, diagnoses and care provided. Descriptive statistics summarised chiropractor, patient and encounter characteristics, with analyses accounting for clustering and design effects.
resultsChiropractors provided data on 3523 chiropractor-patient encounters. More than 65% of participating chiropractors were male, mean age 44 years and had practised on average 15 years. The typical patient was female (59% of encounters), between 45 and 64 years (43%) and retired (21%) or employed in business and administration (13%). Most (39.4%) referrals were from other patients, with 6.8% from physicians. Approximately 68% of patients paid out of pocket or claimed extended health insurance for care. Most common diagnoses were back (49%, 95% CI 44 to 56) and neck (15%, 95% CI 13 to 18) problems, with few encounters related to maintenance/preventive care (0.86%, 95% CI 0.2 to 3.9) and non-musculoskeletal problems (1.3%, 95% CI 0.7 to 2.3). The most common treatments included spinal manipulation (72%), soft tissue therapy (70%) and mobilisation (35%).
conclusionsThis is the most comprehensive profile to date of chiropractic practice in Canada. People who present to Ontario chiropractors are mostly adults with a musculoskeletal condition. Our results can be used by stakeholders to make informed decisions about workforce development, education and healthcare policy related to chiropractic care.
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