title: The chiropractic patient: psychosocial aspects.
abstract: A study of 84 patients attending for the first time an Australian-trained chiropractor is reported. The patients could not be distinguished from the general population on several demographic and trait psychological measures. Before treatment the patients regarded chiropractors as technically competent as general practitioners, but somewhat superior in interpersonal skills. Eighty-two per cent had received and failed to respond to previous treatment, nearly 60% gave a desire for pain relief as their sole reason for attendance, and two-thirds affirmed that they visited the chiropractor as a last resort. At a 10-week follow-up, all but 11% reported some improvement and 74% were sufficiently satisfied with their treatment to affirm that they would return to a chiropractor if their condition recurred. Factors that might have influenced outcome were studied and are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002684:Chiropractic; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012923:Social Class