Medical Doctors, Chiropractors Top Choices for Spine Care.
Byline: Justin McCarthy
Synopsis: U.S. neck and back pain sufferers are most likely to seek care from a medical doctor, but those who see a chiropractor or a physical therapist rate their care experiences better across four measures.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Neck and back pain sufferers in the U.S. who saw healthcare professionals in the past 12 months for this type of pain were most likely to seek care from a medical doctor (62%) or a chiropractor (53%). About a third visited a massage therapist or a physical therapist for their neck or back pain (34% for each).
Smaller percentages of U.S. adults suffering from neck or back pain who sought care saw physician's assistants (26%), nurse practitioners (22%), surgeons who can operate on the spine (22%), doctors of osteopathic medicine (15%) or acupuncturists (9%).
Most patients with this kind of pain (81%) saw more than one type of healthcare provider for care in the past year, demonstrating a willingness to address their pain through different types of care.
These figures are from the latest Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic annual report, Managing Neck and Back Pain in America, which surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the U.S. and can affect one's ability to work, complete daily tasks and enjoy life.
Neck and back pain patients were asked about their experiences with the healthcare professional they saw most often for care. Sample sizes were large enough for examining the experiences of those who saw chiropractors, physical therapists and medical doctors. These experiences were evaluated across four key elements of care, including patient perceptions that their provider provided convenient and quick access to care, listened to them, demonstrated care and compassion, and explained things well.
Patients of chiropractors and physical therapists are more likely to report that their provider often did these four things than are patients of medical doctors. The vast majority of neck and back pain patients who saw a chiropractor in the past year say their chiropractor listened to them (93%), provided convenient and quick access to care (93%), demonstrated care and compassion (91%), and explained things well (88%). More than eight in 10 neck and back pain patients who saw a physical...
To continue reading
Request your trial