Chiropractic in North America: a descriptive analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This paper provides descriptive data on chiropractors, their practice, and their patients in North America in the past decade.


METHODS
Five sites in the United States and 1 in Canada were chosen, and a random sample of chiropractors was interviewed. In each practice, 10 patients were systematically selected on a single day. A total of 131 chiropractors and 1275 patients were interviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that doctors of chiropractic have firmly established themselves within the health care system in the United States and Canada and are able to attract patients who come to them directly for treatment, for largely back-related conditions, and who are willing to pay for their care.
Coulter
Ian D
ID
School of Dentistry, University of California at Los Angeles, California, USA. coulter@rand.org
Shekelle
Paul G
PG
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002684:Chiropractic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States