The health care provider's role and patient compliance to health promotion advice from the user's perspective: analysis of the 2006 National Health Interview Survey data.
OBJECTIVE
The recommendations of health care providers have been shown to be a predictor of future healthy behaviors. However, patient adherence to these recommendations may differ based upon the type of health care professional providing the information. This study explored patient compliance in the United States over a 12-month period and contracted the patient response to recommendations given by chiropractors versus medical doctors.


METHODS
Multiple logistic regression models were used for analyses of data from the Sample Adult Core component of the 2006 National Health Interview Survey (n = 24 275). Analyses were performed separately for recommendation and compliance of weight loss, increase exercise, and diet change by health profession subtype (chiropractor and medical doctor).


RESULTS
About 30.5% of the respondents reported receiving advice from their provider. Among these, 88.0% indicated they complied with the advice they received. Patients who were advised were more likely to comply (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 10.41[9.34-11.24]). Adjusting for seeing a physical therapist, age, and body mass index, chiropractors were less likely to advice patients compared to medical doctors (OR [95% CI], 0.38 [0.30-0.50]). In general, there was a 21% increased odds that patients who received and complied with health promotion advice from their health care provider would report an improved health status (OR [95% CI], 1.21 [1.10-1.33]) compared with those who did not comply or were not advised.


CONCLUSIONS
Chiropractors in the United States give health promotion recommendation to their patients but are less likely to do so than general medical doctors. Patients tend to comply with health providers' recommendations and those who do report better health.
Ndetan
Harrison
H
Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, TX 75229, USA. hndetan@parkercc.edu
Evans
Marion Willard
MW
Bae
Sejong
S
Felini
Martha
M
Rupert
Ronald
R
Singh
Karan P
KP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002684:Chiropractic; D003376:Counseling; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010819:Physician's Role; D012380:Role; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult