Chiropractic Utilization Among Patients in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Area of Science:

• Healthcare utilization studies
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
• Chiropractic research

Background:

• Chiropractic care is a growing field within complementary and alternative medicine.
• Understanding its adoption is crucial for healthcare planning in Malaysia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the utilization rate of chiropractic services in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia.
• To identify demographic factors associated with chiropractic use.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 440 respondents across four healthcare centers in Klang Valley.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires from July to November 2018.
• Descriptive statistics analyzed demographic variables and chiropractic utilization.

Main Results:

• Overall chiropractic utilization was 35.9% (95% CI: 31.4-40.5).
• The study included a diverse age range (18-81 years) with a median age of 30.
• Majority of respondents were Malaysian (97.3%), with 47.5% holding a bachelor's degree.

Conclusions:

• Chiropractic utilization in Klang Valley stands at 35.9%.
• This rate is comparable to, or slightly lower than, other complementary medicine practices in Malaysia.
• Findings provide baseline data for future research and policy development in Malaysian chiropractic care.