title: Informed consent for chiropractic care: Comparing patients' perceptions to the legal perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored chiropractic patients' perceptions of exchanging risk information during informed consent and compared them with the legal perspective of the informed consent process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted with 26 participants, recruited from chiropractic clinics. Transcripts were analysed using a constant comparative method of analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants experienced informed consent as an on-going process where risk information informed their decisions to receive treatment throughout four distinct stages. In the first stage, information acquired prior to arriving at the clinic for treatment shaped perceptions of risk. In stage two, participants assessed the perceived competence of their practitioners. Participants then signed the consent form and discussed the risks with their practitioners. Finally, they communicated with their practitioners during treatment to ensure their pain threshold was not crossed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that chiropractic patients perceive informed consent as a process involving communication with their practitioners, and that it is possible to educate patients about the risks associated with treatment while satisfying the legal requirements of informed consent.
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: mwinterb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winterbottom
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.affiliation: Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Canada.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mior
authors.affiliation: Dali Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Facey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057240:Patient Preference; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chiropractic; Informed consent; Spinal manipulation