Implementation of a course on wellness concepts into a chiropractic college curriculum

The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate a course on "wellness concepts" for chiropractic students, emphasizing national goals and evidence-based practices for health promotion and prevention.

Teaching methods included traditional lecture discussions and experiential activities, including objectives described in Healthy People 2010. Evaluation included pre- and posttests of students' familiarity with and intention to use key concepts, resources, and practices; item analysis of multiple choice exams; and a qualitative survey.

Increases in students' self-reported familiarity were statistically significant for all but 2 of the 23 key topics assessed. At baseline, students already expressed intention to use most wellness-related practices listed, and showed significant increases for approximately half the practices listed at the posttest. Item analysis found students less able to correctly answer questions requiring analytic thinking than simple memorization. Students were most satisfied with the experiential portions of the course.

Although the course was successful at introducing students to national resources and initiatives related to wellness, health promotion, and prevention, these concepts may be more meaningful if integrated into a teaching clinic that encouraged practical application of course concepts.