From Practice to Publication Taking clinical ideas to the next level “L ittle miracles happen every day in practice – and they go on by, whisked away into history to be lost forever. How many of you see this in practice, followed by a moment of desire to share these miracles with the rest of the world?” Dr. Jerome Fryer, a chiropractor currently practising in Nanaimo, British Columbia, fi rmly believes that the successes which independent DCs achieve in their clinics need not remain local anecdotes shared among friends and colleagues in relatively casual set- tings. He feels that if the clinician desires, these ideas and successes can be taken to the next level – into the realm of research for publication, to join the annals of knowledge that fuel the growth of the profession. However, Fryer realizes that DCs often fi nd the prospect of taking their findings outside of their practices daunting, to say the least. The time and financing required to design studies, plan for travel or equipment, hire research assistants and/or network with practitioners in other disciplines – if these become necessary – collect and analyze data, write up the paper, submit the work for publication and revise the text according to the requirements of the various editorial boards, can make an independent research effort seem like an impossible undertaking. “But, there is nothing more important to the building of this profession,” notes Fryer. “We must document our miracles. Chiropractic is built on a scientific foundation.” “We highlight chiropractors in universities,” continues Fryer, “but I think we are all scientists in our day-to-day practice. I hope to inspire provincial associations to encour- age their members to write about their successes. Ultimately, it will move us forward.” Dr. Fryer has spoken to various groups of DCs about how he has taken his own ideas to the next level, publishing them in a reputable medical journal. He now shares this journey with Canadian Chiropractor. While he acknowledges the achievements and impact of university-based chiropractic science, he notes that chiropractic research is not out of reach to the independent chiropractor who wishes to communicate with the scientifi c community at large. 8 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2008 www.canadianchiropractor.ca feature
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor September 2008: Page 8
