Cross-sectional Survey of the Evidence Implementation Environment of the Australian Chiropractic and Osteopathic...

The purpose of this study was to explore the complex environment of the Australian chiropractic and osteopathic medicine (COM) professions to ascertain their preparedness for evidence implementation (EI).

This cross-sectional study, conducted between July and November 2024, used nonprobability sampling and a comprehensive recruitment strategy to engage students, academics, clinicians, managers, directors and administrators in COM to complete the 44-item online Global Assessment of the Evidence Implementation Environment (GENIE) questionnaire.

The survey was completed by 157 respondents (59.2% chiropractors; 40.8% osteopaths). Overall, more than one-half of respondents believed the 34 indicators of EI preparedness in COM had been meet, although the strength of respondents' convictions was mostly low. Respondents perceived the COM academic environment to be somewhat better prepared for EI (with 72.6% agreeing/strongly agreeing that the sector was ready for EI) relative to the clinical (70.7%) and regulatory sectors (68.1%). Notable challenges to EI were insufficient research funding, champions of evidence-based practice, evidence-based decision-support, and practitioner engagement in research and information literacy.

The majority of Australian COM professionals in this sample believed that key indicators of EI have been met. However, uncertainty remains about each profession's overall readiness, with academic environments perceived to be better prepared than clinical and regulatory sectors.