title: Critique of a practice-based pilot study in chiropractic practices in Western Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Practice-based data collection can offer insight into the nature of chiropractic practice and contribute to resolving the conundrum of the chiropractic profession's role in contemporary healthcare, subsequently informing care service policy. However, there is little formal data available about chiropractic practice to inform decision-makers about the nature and role of chiropractic within the context of a modern multidisciplinary healthcare context in Australia, particularly at a local and regional level.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a mixed-methods data transformation model (qualitative to quantitative) pilot study the purpose of which was to provide a critique of the research design and collect data from a selected sample of chiropractic practices in Western Australia, with a view to offer recommendations related to the design, feasibility and implementation of a future confirmatory study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A narrative critique of the research methods of this pilot study is offered in this paper covering: (a) practice and patient recruitment, (b) enrollment of patients, (c) data collection methods, (d) acceptability of the study methods, (e) sample size calculations, and (f) design critique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this critique provides a sensible sample size estimate and recommendations as to the design and implementation of a future confirmatory study. Furthermore, we believe that a confirmatory study is not only feasible, but indeed necessary, with a view to offer meaningful insight into chiropractic practice in Western Australia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12616000434493 Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). Registered 5 April 2016. First participant enrolled 01 July 2014, retrospectively registered.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions (Discipline of Chiropractic) Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia Australia ; Murdoch University Chiropractic Clinic, South Street Campus, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150 Australia.
authors.forename: Lyndon G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Amorin-Woods
authors.affiliation: General Practice and Emergency Medicine Registrar, Busselton, Western Australia 6160 Australia.
authors.forename: Gregory F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Parkin-Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway (M431), Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009 Australia.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nedkoff
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway (M431), Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009 Australia.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fisher
keywords: Chiropractic; Evaluation study feasibility study; Pilot projects; Professional practice