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Chiropractic patients in the Netherlands: a descriptive study
S Rubinstein1, C E Pfeifle, M W van Tulder
1Private Practice of Chiropractic, Soest, the Netherlands.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
|October 26, 2000
Summary
Patients seeking chiropractic care in the Netherlands primarily have chronic neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Many have tried other therapies before, indicating a need for better integration into the healthcare system.
Area of Science:
- Chiropractic Research
- Patient Demographics
- Neuromusculoskeletal Health
Background:
- Limited understanding of chiropractic patient profiles in the Netherlands and Europe.
- Growing global popularity of chiropractic care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize the patient population seeking chiropractic care in the Netherlands.
- To identify the primary reasons for seeking chiropractic treatment.
Main Methods:
- Survey of new chiropractic patients across Dutch private practices.
- Data collected retrospectively via questionnaires.
- Inclusion of 10 consecutive new patients per participating chiropractor.
Main Results:
- High participation rate: 78% of registered chiropractors and 89% of patients returned questionnaires.
- Dominant reason for visits: neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) complaints (86% spinal-related).
- Prevalence of chronic NMS complaints (77% >12 weeks) with prior conservative treatments (75%).
Conclusions:
- Chiropractic patients in the Netherlands predominantly present with chronic NMS issues.
- Chiropractors operate outside the conventional referral system, leading to patients with extensive treatment histories.
- Patients exhibit high treatment expectation despite chronic conditions.