CJA Vol.39 Issue 3Editorial: Dreams and Theories become Realities -
p.85 Mary Ann Chance Memorial Paper - p.86 Chiropractic Education: Towards Best
Practice in Four Areas of the Curriculum - p. 87 Toward a 21st Century Paradigm of Chiropractic
Education:Stage 2, Connecting Assessment to Attainment in
Practice-Integrated Learning - p. 92 Practice Characteristics of Chiropractors in New
Zealand - p. 103 Development and Application of a Pilot Risk
Management Tool for Plain Radiography - p. 10 Changes in Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
for a Hypotensive Patient Receiving Upper Cervical Specific: A Case
Report - p. 118 ABSTRACTS Chiropractic Education:
Towards Best Practice in Four Areas of the Curriculum ABSTRACT: Objective: To report outcomes of the discussion-based
components of the inaugural Summit on Chiropractic Education held in
Melbourne Australia in July 2009. Design: A narrative reporting
statements of relative consensus that form the basis for the future
development of statements of best practice. Setting: A two day meeting
on the RMIT University campus held under the auspices of the
Australasian College of Chiropractors of the Chiropractors Association
of Australia (National). Participants: The academic leadership of the
eight Asian Pacific chiropractic institutions, leading educators other
than chiropractors, industry leaders and practicing members of the
discipline of chiropractic. Results: The nature of the methodology
allowed the development of themes that will facilitate future discussion
in four areas of the chiropractic curriculum: assessing students in the
clinical setting; engaging students in learning research and
scholarship; the teaching of clinical skills and chiropractic technique;
and aligning taught content with industry (professional) practice.
Conclusion: While it is not appropriate to take any of the reported
statements as being representative of agreed best practice there are
valuable comments that not only show commonality amongst all
institutions but also represent a solid foundation of educational
concepts. Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39:87-91 Back to Top Toward a 21st Century Paradigm of Chiropractic Education: Stage 2, Connecting Assessment to Attainment in Practice-Integrated Learning Phillip Ebrall, Barry Draper, Adrian Repka and Navine Haworth ABSTRACT: Purpose: To identify contemporary themes and best practice
in student assessment within chiropractic practice-integrated learning
(PIL), taken as being the institution-managed, supervised clinical
placement of senior chiropractic students within the context of a
first-professional tertiary qualification.Methods: Focus group
methodology was applied to four main categories of participants being
multiple groups of chiropractic students, chiropractic academics, and
chiropractic clinical educators or ‘clinicians’ in three
institutions in three countries. The fourth category, industry, was
represented by 3 groups. There were 65 total individual participants.
Results: The findings provide evidence that (i) the complexities of
clinical learning are compounded by a lack of consistent assessment
processes and clinician behaviours; (ii) student assessment within
chiropractic PIL should shift more towards the quality of the patient
interaction and management given that quantitative measurement by quota
completion equates to neither competency nor capability; (iii) specific
elements of chiropractic PIL, namely radiography and radiology, are
thought to remain relevant in the university-managed PIL environment and
a structured assessment of their perceived value should be undertaken;
(iv) feedback to students is acknowledged as important if not critical
to their growth and development as a learner and a strong desire is
present to strengthen and improve feedback as an assessment tool in the
PIL environment; and (v) critical self reflection has value as an
assessment tool in this environment and must be properly implemented
with a pre-determined structure and training of both students and
clinicians. Discussion: The results are congruent with contemporary
educational theory and point to a range of changes that could be
developed and implemented by chiropractic educational institutions to
improve the learning experience of chiropractic students and the quality
of patient care provided in the teaching clinics. Conclusion: The
finding that the complexities of clinical learning are compounded by a
lack of consistent assessment processes and clinician behaviours
supports the recent observations of the authors. The evidence is
strongly indicative of the need to shift clinical assessment and
processes more towards the quality of the patient interaction and
management. The findings also signal the need to shift to a more
holistic view of the patient in which the role of radiography and
radiology may be refreshed and strengthened and the primacy of the
patient becomes the key driver of the learning around clinical decision
making. Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39:92-102 Back to Top Practice Characteristics of Chiropractors in New Zealand Kelly Holt, Brian Kelly and Heidi Haavik Taylor ABSTRACT: Objective: To summarise the key findings of the 2007 New
Zealand College of Chiropractic Stakeholders Advisory Committee survey
of the New Zealand chiropractic profession. Method: The survey
questionnaire comprised 50 questions divided into 5 sections: the
chiropractic practitioner, the chiropractic practice, professional
functions and referrals, accident compensation and the chiropractic
patient. Hard copy surveys were mailed to all 306 chiropractors with a
New Zealand postal address who were issued with an Annual Practicing
Certificate during the 2005/2006 year. Chiropractors were invited to
either complete the hard copy survey or complete the survey online using
an electronic version. Summary: 152 chiropractors responded to the
survey. The results indicate there is a desire amongst the profession to
increase the number of chiropractors in New Zealand. They also suggest
that, despite the lack of mandate by the New Zealand Chiropractic Board
for a set minimum number of continuing education hours, most New Zealand
chiropractors appear to be engaging in a satisfactory level of
continuing education. Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39:103-9 Back to Top Development and Application of a Pilot Risk Management Tool for Plain Radiography Rosemary E. J. Pace, Amanda Kimpton and Phillip Ebrall ABSTRACT: Objective: To report the development and application of a
pilot risk management tool for plain radiography and based on this, to
determine whether plain radiographic examination increases the
information that may direct or modify a chiropractic care plan. Setting:
RMIT University chiropractic teaching clinics. Methods: Five hundred
patient files dated between 2004 and 2005 were selected at random,
reviewed and analysed using a risk management imaging guideline for
plain radiography. Age, gender, percentage referred for radiography,
radiological indications for plain radiography, patient status,
radiographic anomaly (deviation from norm) identified on plain
radiograph, and care plan modification were recorded. Results:
Chiropractic care plan modification occurred for 20.4% of the 20.6%
patients referred for plain radiography. The mean age for patient files
assessed within the guidelines was 35.7 years and age range was 9.5 to
83 years and 51.2% of patients were female. The most common primary
radiological indications for plain radiography were evidence of
significant/acute trauma to cause fracture or instability (21.4%),
chronic regional pain (21.3%) and patient aged greater than 50 years
with chronic regional pain (16.5%). The most frequent conditions
identified were degenerative joint disease (71.8%) and scoliosis
(53.3%). Conclusion: The results suggest care plan modification occurred
for a relatively small number of patients after referral for a plain
radiographic examination although a high proportion of patients had
anomalies. The most common indicator for referral for radiography was
evidence of significant/acute trauma to cause fracture or instability
and the most frequent anomaly was degenerative joint disease. Within
this pilot environment the risk management tool for plain radiography
has contributed to some understanding of the factors that influence not
only referral for radiography but also modification of chiropractic care
based on radiological findings. Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39:110-7 Back to Top Changes in Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure for a Hypotensive Patient Receiving Upper Cervical Specific: A Case Report Jeffrey S. Hannah ABSTRACT: Objective: This case report describes blood pressure
improvements for a patient receiving upper Chiropr J Aust 2009; 39:118-21. Back to Top
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