UPFRONT | From the editor Polling patients If a recent national U.S. survey is any indication, things might be looking up for the chiropractic profes-sion. A Gallup study of 5,442 adult Americans, commissioned by Palmer College of Chiropractic, indicates a positive reputation of chiropractic as an effective treatment for neck and back pain – with six out of 10 adults either strongly agreeing or somewhat agreeing to this premise. In addition, 63 per cent either strongly agree or somewhat agree that most chiropractors have their patients’ best interest in mind. Last year alone, more than 33 million U.S. adults – about 14 per cent – saw a chiropractor an average of 11 times. Kudos to Palmer College for taking the initiative and investing in this mar-ket intelligence. According to Palmer, this study was the first-ever national survey to measure Americans’ perception of and experiences with chiroprac-tic. This annual survey will be repeated for at least two more years and will aid Palmer’s efforts to “advance the profession’s identity and public under-standing of chiropractic care.” A similar study, if commissioned in Canada, would be a worthwhile endeav-our. For one thing, it will uncover valuable insights that can help shape future efforts to influence public perception. For another, it will provide real market intelligence about chiropractic utilization, which has been the subject of many discussions and contention (and a subject for another editorial, perhaps), depending on where one lives. Any potential national survey would need to be cognizant of provincial discrepancies in utilization rates to be able to provide a realistic picture of the state of chiropractic in Canada. However, the primary focus of such a study, if commissioned, should be to gauge public perception of chiropractic and their experiences under care. The Canadian Chiropractic Association, with support from provincial as-sociations, will serve the entire profession well by taking this initiative of launching a national study. We’ve seen numerous research about the efficacy of chiropractic care; we’ve heard case studies of chiropractors integrating successfully in interprofessional care settings. It’s time to take it a step further by asking the patients and getting their perspectives on chiropractic. The outcomes of such a study will serve to reinforce efforts by the profession to increase its participation in primary health care through patient-centred, interprofessional collaboration. December 2015 Volume 20, Number 8 EDITOR Mari-Len De Guzman [email protected] (905) 726-4659 PUBLISHER Christine Livingstone [email protected] (519) 429-5173 • (888) 599-2228 ext. 239 ACCOUNT COORDINATOR Shannon Drumm [email protected] (888) 599-2228 ext. 219 MEDIA DESIGNER Brooke Shaw GROUP PUBLISHER Martin McAnulty [email protected] DIRECTOR OF SOUL/COO Sue Fredericks MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 530, 105 Donly Drive South, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. P.O. BOX 530, SIMCOE, ON N3Y 4N5 e-mail: [email protected] Canadian Chiropractor is published eight times a year: February, April, May, June, July/August, September, October and December. Published and printed by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc., 105 Donly Drive South, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 Printed in Canada ISSN 1488-6952 CIRCULATION e-mail: [email protected] Tel: (866) 790-6070 ext. 206 Fax: (877) 624-1940 Mail: P.O. Box 530, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada – 1 Year $24.00 (with GST $25.20, with HST/QST $27.12) (HST #867172652RT0001) USA – 1 Year $35.00 (US Funds) Best pricing is available online at www.canadianchiropractor.ca Occasionally, Canadian Chiropractor will mail information on behalf of industry-related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2015 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not meet the standards of the publication. MARI-LEN DE GUZMAN, Editor EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD @CanChiropractor Victoria Coleman, DC; Connie J. D’Astolfo, DC, Dip HA, PhD (cand); Pierre DesLauriers, DC; James P. Laws, DC, FRCCSS(C)(Hon); David Leprich, DC; Wanda Lee MacPhee, DC; Peter Moore, DC; Don Nixdorf, DC; Renae Rogers, DC; Greg Stewart, BPE, DC 6 Canadian Chiropractor December 2015 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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