title: Helping address the national research and research capacity needs of Australian chiropractic: introducing the Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) project.
abstract: Chiropractic is a popular health care choice in Australia and yet major gaps in our empirical understanding of this area of practice remain. Furthermore, while some research excellence exists, a largely uncoordinated approach to research activity and development has in effect led to silos of interest and a lack of strategic 'big-picture' planning essential to producing a sustainable research culture and capacity for the profession. This commentary identifies the significance of a number of key features - including a national, coordinated focus, and a rich engagement with the practitioner and patient base amongst others - arguably important to the future development of research and research capacity within Australian chiropractic. The design features and phases of the Australian Chiropractic Research Network (ACORN) project are also outlined. ACORN is one contemporary initiative specifically developed to address chiropractic's research and research capacity building needs and help grow a broad evidence-base to inform safe, effective patient care.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia ; Office of Research, Endeavour College of Natural Health, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sungwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
keywords: Chiropractic; Practice based research networks; Research; Research capacity building
references.citation: Chiropr Man Therap. 2013 Jan 31;21(1):5
references.pmid: 23369205
references.citation: Aust J Public Health. 1994 Sep;18(3):325-31
references.pmid: 7794324
references.citation: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Oct 07;11:85
references.pmid: 21981986
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Jul-Aug;31(6):455-60
references.pmid: 18722201
references.citation: Chiropr Man Therap. 2013 Sep 26;21(1):31
references.pmid: 24295295
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010 Jun;33(5):395-405
references.pmid: 20605559
references.citation: J Dent Educ. 2011 Apr;75(4):453-65
references.pmid: 21460266
references.citation: BMJ. 2001 Mar 10;322(7286):567-8
references.pmid: 11238139
references.citation: Ann Fam Med. 2004 May 26;2 Suppl 2:S5-16
references.pmid: 15655089
references.citation: Complement Ther Med. 2008 Oct;16(5):245-6
references.pmid: 19186339
references.citation: Clin Rheumatol. 2010 Jan;29(1):25-32
references.pmid: 19838830
references.citation: Fam Pract. 2012 Oct;29(5):499-500
references.pmid: 22523391
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997 Mar-Apr;20(3):201-17
references.pmid: 9127258
references.citation: J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Jul-Aug;13(6):643-50
references.pmid: 17718647
references.citation: J Med Libr Assoc. 2005 Apr;93(2):206-12
references.pmid: 15858623
references.citation: J Am Board Fam Med. 2012 Sep-Oct;25(5):565-71
references.pmid: 22956691
references.citation: J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2009;53(2):78-86
references.pmid: 19488409
references.citation: Aust Fam Physician. 2008 Oct;37(10):871-3
references.pmid: 19002311
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2012 Oct;35(8):580-8
references.pmid: 23158463
references.citation: Med J Aust. 2013 Nov 18;199(10):687-91
references.pmid: 24237100
references.citation: Pharmacotherapy. 2013 Sep;33(9):902-11
references.pmid: 23649880
references.citation: J Am Board Fam Med. 2006 Jan-Feb;19(1):1-10
references.pmid: 16491999
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Mar-Apr;24(3):157-69
references.pmid: 11313611
references.citation: Aust Fam Physician. 2002 Dec;31(12):1139-42
references.pmid: 12516520
references.citation: Med J Aust. 2000 Jul 17;173(2):63-4
references.pmid: 10937027
references.citation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 May;37(4):219-29
references.pmid: 24679644
references.citation: Chiropr Man Therap. 2014 Feb 10;22(1):9
references.pmid: 24512854
references.citation: Can Fam Physician. 2006 Sep;52(9):1045-6, 1047-8
references.pmid: 17279207
references.citation: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012 Dec 12;12:146
references.pmid: 23231765
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2008 Apr 01;8:105
references.pmid: 18377663
references.citation: J Am Dent Assoc. 2008 Jan;139(1):74-81
references.pmid: 18167389
references.citation: Ann Fam Med. 2004 Sep-Oct;2(5):425-8
references.pmid: 15506575
references.citation: J Dent Res. 2012 Jul;91(7 Suppl):12S-20S
references.pmid: 22699662
references.citation: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Jan 06;11:2
references.pmid: 21208458