GREELEY, Colorado -- Over the last two years, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) has been developing a survey that would provide critical data to better define the chiropractic profession as it is practiced today in the United States. The objective of such a survey is to identify the major responsibilites of DCs and the knowledge and techniques used by practitioners in the field.
A National Advisory Committee met at the NBCE headquarters on June 22, 1991 to discuss guidelines for a formal job analysis of chiropractic. The committee was comprised of state licensing board members, faculty from chiropractic colleges, and practicing DCs.
Titus Plomaritis, president of the NBCE board of directors, told members of the National Advisory Committee, "The information gathered in this study of chiropractic will provide the hard evidence necessary to bring us together as a profession."
Dr. D. Brent Owens, president of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) and chairman of the NBCE Job Analysis Steering Committee commented, "I believe that this significant research will place the chiropractic profession in an excellent position to take a leadership position in the field of health care licensure examination." Dr. Owens envisions the day when entry-level licensure examinations for DCs will be standardized in all 50 states.
As a preliminary step, the NBCE mailed a "Survey of Chiropractic Practice" on June 26, 1991 to a representative sample of DCs to field-test the data. The results of the preliminary survey will be analyzed, followed by a mailing of 5,000 of the questionnaires to randomly selected DCs practicing throughout the United States.
The DCs selected to receive the questionnaire will be asked to provide information based on the procedures they use in their private practices. The survey can be completed in approximately 30 minutes.
The NBCE will record and tabulate the data from the survey and publish the results in the "Report of Chiropractic Practice in the United States."
The NBCE has been asked to conduct a smaller but similar survey sampling of DCs in Canada. Those results will provide a basis of comparison of chiropractic practices in the U.S. and Canada.
Horace Elliott, the NBCE executive director, believes the analysis will reveal the common link between DCs that defines chiropractors as a group of professionals. "We are looking at ... specific procedures typically performed by chiropractors in their offices. We want to know how frequently these procedures are performed, and their importance in terms of patient health and safety."
Mr. Elliott added, "The intent of this study is not to affect chiropractic scope of practice in any manner."
DCs receiving the questionnaire are encouraged to complete the form and return it to the NBCE promptly, as survey response to the research project is essential for its success.
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