Findings from the 2017 Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans reveal American adults' experiences with pain and their perceptions of and opinions regarding pharmaceutical vs. conservative pain management. Findings highlight the pain epidemic, particularly neck and back pain, and the opportunity for the chiropractic profession to serve as a clear alternative to pain medication.
Here are four major takeaways from this year's survey, conducted February-March 2017 and completed by 6,305 U.S. adults ages 18 and older:
1. Americans Are in Pain
Sixty-three percent of adults have experienced neck or back pain during their lifetime that led to a visit to a health care professional. More than one in four (27 percent) have seen a provider for their pain in the past 12 months. For those who visited a health provider for neck or back pain in the previous year, more than half (54 percent) say their pain has persisted to some degree for at least five years, while another 22 percent say the pain has been ongoing for at least one year.
2. They Don't Want to Take Prescription Medication
Overwhelmingly, U.S. adults would rather try nondrug ways to manage their pain before taking a drug prescribed by their doctor. Nearly four in five adults surveyed (78 percent) "prefer to try other ways to address physical pain" first.
3. They Consider Chiropractic Safer and More Effective Than Prescription Pain Medication
When suffering from significant neck or back pain, adults perceive chiropractic care (31 percent) as safer than taking prescription pain medication (17 percent), while 25 percent consider chiropractic care equally as safe as prescription meds. In terms of effectiveness for significant neck or back pain, chiropractic again tops prescription drugs: 27 percent vs. 22 percent.
Overall, 81 percent of U.S. adults believe chiropractic can either help a great deal (41 percent) or help some (40 percent) with neck and back pain.
4. They Still Take OTC Drugs for Pain
Despite nearly 80 percent of adults preferring to avoid prescription pain medications as a first option for neck or back pain, "new" sufferers (ongoing pain for less than 12 months) frequently take over-the-counter medications. Seventy percent report taking NSAIDs (Advil, Aspirin, Aleve, etc.) and 45 percent report taking acetaminophen (Tylenol).
The Opportunity ... and the Challenge
While these are only some of the findings from this year's survey, they hint both at the changing landscape of pain management in the U.S. and the hurdles that remain. Americans commonly suffer neck or back pain, often the chronic variety. They overwhelmingly do not want to take prescription medication as a first option, and many recognize chiropractic care as safer and at least as effective as prescription pain meds. And yet they continue to take OTC medications to manage their pain – far more often than they visit a chiropractor (less than one in five – 18 percent – of adults reported visiting a DC in the previous 12 months).
Editor's Note: Download the entire Gallup-Palmer report at www.palmer.edu/alumni/research-publications/gallup-report/.
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