An independent assessment of chiropractic practice guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of Recommended Clinical Protocols and Guidelines for the Practice of Chiropractic (ICA guidelines) published by the International Chiropractors Association (ICA), August, 2000.


METHODS
The Appraisal Instrument for Clinical Guidelines (Cluzeau instrument) was applied to the ICA guidelines by 10 independent experienced evaluators. An independent, global assessment was also made by each evaluator.


RESULTS
Mean scores (with 95% confidence limit) for each of the instrument's 3 dimensions were Rigor of Development, 27% (5.1); Context and Content, 18.3% (9.4); and Application, 2% (3.9). The unanimous global assessment was "not recommended as suitable for utilization in practice." Comparison of the ICA guideline scores with the Council on Chiropractic Practice's Clinical Practice Guideline No. 1, Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice (CCP guidelines) scores and Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters (Mercy guidelines) Cluzeau instrument-based scores revealed that the ICA guidelines received slightly higher scores than the CCP guidelines but substantially lower scores than the Mercy guidelines for all dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICA guidelines were assessed as not suitable for utilization in chiropractic practice.
Cates
Jeffrey R
JR
Private practice of chiropractic orthopedics, Oregon, IL 61061, USA.
Young
David N
DN
Guerriero
David J
DJ
Jahn
Warren T
WT
Armine
Jesse P
JP
Korbett
Alan B
AB
Bowerman
Daniel S
DS
Porter
Robert C
RC
Sandman
Terry
T
King
Robert A
RA
D002684:Chiropractic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017712:Peer Review, Research / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States