Financial pressure, enrollment declines and institutional challenges are emerging at several U.S. chiropractic colleges. Life Chiropractic College West's and Life University's struggles may be the most talked about but appear to be part of a larger story. And with recent USDE requirements threatening to hamstring federal student financing for DC degree programs, chiropractic education is facing questions for which it has no immediate answers.
| Digital ExclusiveIQ (Interesting Quote)
"Physicians predicted a 'great improvement' of quality of life after surgery for 79% and 'moderate' improvement for 20% ... despite clear average improvement, surgeons tended to give overly optimistic predictions that were not correlated with patient outcome at 1-year follow-up."
- Results from a recent study comparing physician predictions with outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for low back pain and sciatica. According to the study, 56% of patients whose surgeons predicted "a great deal of improvement" reported no significant improvement in their health one year after surgery.
SOURCE: Graz B, Wietlisbach V, et al. Prognosis or "curabo effect?" Physician prediction and patient outcome of surgery for low back pain and sciatica. Spine, June 15, 2005;30(12):1448-52.