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- Title
Patient Characteristics, Consultation Request Patterns, and Utilization of Services Within a VA Medical Center Chiropractic Clinic.
- Authors
Dunn, Andrew S.; Passmore, Steven R.
- Abstract
Objectives: Chiropractic services initially became available at the VA of Western New York (VAWNYHS) in September 2004. Chiropractic clinics are currently established at 32 VA medical facilities nationally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the 354 completed chiropractic consultations at the VAWNYHS in 2006 with respect to patient characteristics, consultation request patterns, and utilization of clinical services. Methods: This study involved a retrospective chart review of 354 chiropractic consultation requests completed in 2006. Descriptive statistics were utilized along with chi-squared and t-tests for comparing frequencies and means as appropriate. Results: The average chiropractic patient within this study was a 55 year-old, overweight or obese male with low back pain. There was a mean percentage of service-connected disability of 29.76% and a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 16.95% of veteran patients. Primary care providers were the main source of consultation requests with variation in the volume of requests among the panel of providers. Management consisted mainly of spinal manipulation coupled with either flexion-distraction or mobilization directed at the region of chief complaint. The utilization of chiropractic services within this VA medical facility was less that that reported in the general public. Discussion: Veteran chiropractic patients differ from those seen in the general public in terms of age and gender. The influence of obesity, service-connected disability, and PTSD on clinical outcomes with veteran chiropractic patients is unknown. With variations in consultation patterns identified and access to chiropractic services dependent upon consultations, further investigation is warranted. Re-evaluations and analysis of outcome measures after every fourth visit helped to identify clinical end points early on within courses of care and to regulate patient visit average. Conclusion: Additional health systems and clinical research are needed with a focus on access to chiropractic services and the influence of veteran patient characteristics on clinical outcomes with chiropractic management. (This is an abstract from a conference presentation only and does not represent a full work that has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication.
- Subjects
NEW York (State); CHIROPRACTIC; CHIROPRACTIC clinics; CLINICS; HEALTH facilities; ALTERNATIVE medicine
- Publication
Journal of Chiropractic Education (Association of Chiropractic Colleges), 2008, Vol 22, Issue 1, p56
- ISSN
1042-5055
- Publication type
Article