1. Results
Sample Demographics and Response Rates of participating GP’s
A total of 91 questionnaires were sent out to all the registered general
practitioners in Jersey excluding those that had been involved in the pilot stage.
A total of 41 responses were received (50 missing data items) giving a response
rate of 45.0%.
The demographical breakdown was missing 10 data items in the gender section,
1 data item in the age section and 18 missing data items in the years in practice
section.
Of the data received 74.2% of the participating GP’s were male and 25.8% were
female, 82.5% of the responding general practitioners included within the study
were over 41 years of age. 46.3% of the general practitioners included in the
study had been in general practice for over 12 years. Figures 1 and 2 show the
demographic data for participating general practitioners.
Fig. 1 - Age distribution of surveyed
GP's
32-40
18%
41-50
38%
51-65
44%
65+
0%
Fig. 2 - Distribution of years in practice
for surveyed GP's
6-10
18%
11-15
23%
16-20
9%
20-30
50%
2. GP Discussion and referral regarding chiropractic with patients
On the subject of GP’s discussing chiropractic care with their patients a total of
41 replies were received giving a 100% response rate to this question. Of the
participating GP’s 29.3% frequently discuss chiropractic care with their patients
and 65.9% occasionally or sometimes discuss chiropractic care with patients;
only 4.9% stated that they never discuss chiropractic care with their patients. See
figure 3 for data regarding GP discussion of chiropractic with their patients.
29.3%
43.9%
22.0%
4.9%
Frequently
Sometimes
Occaisonally
Never
Fig.3 – Pie chart showing frequency of GP discussion of chiropractic with their patients.
When asked if they have ever referred a patient to a chiropractor 92.7% of the
participating GP’s stated that they had, and of these 25.6% had done so
frequently. A 100% response was received on this question and 7.3% of the GP’s
who responded stated that they had never referred a patient for chiropractic care.
Figure 4 shows the frequency of referral to chiropractic by general practitioners.
3. 25.6%
41.0%
24.4%
7.3%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
Frequently Sometimes Occaisonally Never
Frequency of Referral
%ofGeneralPractitioners
Fig.4 - Graph showing frequency of GP patient referral to chiropractic.
The results show that the correlation between discussion and referral is very
close as figure 3 shows, 43.9% of the GP’s discussed chiropractic as much as
they referred their patients to chiropractors.
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
Frequently Sometimes Occaisonally Never
Frequency
%ofGeneralPractitioners
Discussion
Referall
Fig. 5 - Chart showing the frequency of referral to a chiropractor compared with discussing
chiropractic with patients.
4. Use of complimentary medicine by general practitioners
On the use of Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) in general practice, 41
responses were received and of these 73.2% reported using CAM and only
26.8% stated that they did not. 41.7% reported that they used only 1 type of
therapy and 90% of this was physiotherapy. Approximately 23% used 4 CAM
therapies in their surgery and one GP reported that he used all 7 therapies that
were listed. Figure 6 below shows the uses of listed therapies.
73.2%
26.8%
87.5%
37.5%
41.7%
79.2%
16.7%
45.8%
4.2%
8.3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
YES
I
U
SE
CAM
N
O
I
D
O
N
O
T
U
SE
CAM
Physiotherapy
O
steopathy
M
assageAccupunctureH
ypnotherapyH
om
eopathy
ReflexologyChiropractic
Type of complimentary medicine used in surgery
%ofGeneralPractitioners
Fig. 6 – Graph showing % of GP’s that use complimentary medicine in their surgery, and what %
of therapies are used.
5. Chiropractic within the States of Jersey Healthcare Service
When asked if chiropractic should be available as a service within the States of
Jersey Healthcare System 31.7% of the participating GP’s surveyed agreed with
the statement and 4.9% of them strongly agreed with it. Nearly half the
participants were neutral with 41.5% neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the
statement and a total of 26.8% did not agree that chiropractic should be available
as a service within the States of Jersey Healthcare System.
On the subject of the GP’s surveyed being more likely to refer to chiropractic if it
was available within the States of Jersey Healthcare System a total of 58.6% of
GP’s agreed with the statement and 9.8% of them agreed strongly. The number
of GP’s neither agreeing or disagreeing with this statement was 24.4% and
17.1% did not agree with the statement “I would be more likely to refer patients to
for chiropractic if it was available within the States of Jersey Healthcare System”.
4.9%
26.8%
41.5%
26.8%
9.8%
48.8%
24.4%
17.1%
0.0% 0.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Strongly
Agree
Agree Neither
Agree or
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
%ofGeneralPractitioners
I feel that chiropractic should be
available within the States of Jersey
Healthcare System
I would be more likely to refer
patients to chiropractic if the
treatment was available within the
States of Jersey Healthcare System
Fig. 7 – Graph showing the attitudes towards an inclusion of chiropractic within the health system
in Jersey compared with attitude to referral
6. GP attitudes towards chiropractors scope of diagnosis
A total of 41 responses (no missing data items) were received on the subject of a
chiropractors ability to diagnose patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and a
total of 40 responses (1 missing data item) on the ability to diagnose non-
musculoskeletal disorders.
66% of the general practitioners agreed with the statement that “chiropractors are
qualified to give a competent working diagnosis to their patients for
Musculoskeletal Disorders” and 7% strongly agreed. The remaining 27% neither
agreed nor disagreed with the statement.
When asked if Chiropractors are qualified to give a competent working diagnosis
to their patients for Non-Musculoskeletal Disorders 40% of the GP’s who
responded disagreed and 35% neither agreed nor disagreed. Of the 25% who
agreed with the statement only 2.5% strongly agreed.
Figure 8 shows the difference between general practitioners attitudes to
chiropractors competency to diagnose musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal
disorders.
7. 7%
66%
27%
0% 0%
2.5%
22.5%
35.0%
32.5%
7.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Strongly
Agree
Agree Neither
Agree or
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
%ofGeneralPractitioners
Chiropractors are qualified to to give
a competent working diagnosis to
their patients for Musculoskeletal
Disorders
Chiropractors are qualified to to give
a competent working diagnosis to
their patients for Non-
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Fig. 8 - Graph showing the attitudes of General Practitioners to what areas they feel
chiropractors are competent to diagnose.
GP Consideration on conditions for referral to a chiropractor
On the subject of which conditions a General Practitioner would refer a patient to
a chiropractor for the spine was the most common with 82.9% referring for
generalised low back pain and 90.2% referring for chronic low back pain. 78%
would refer for acute neck pain and 85.4% for chronic neck pain. On the subject
of referral for asthma only 5% indicated that they would refer and 20% would
refer for infantile colic. Table 1 shows the responses for conditions the GP’s
would and would not consider for referral to a chiropractor.
8. Table 1. Conditions that General Practitioners would and would not consider appropriate for
referral to a chiropractor.
Condition Yes No Not Sure
Acute low back pain n=34 n=2 n=5
82.9% 4.9% 12.2%
Chronic low back pain n=37 n=0 n=4
90.2% 0.0% 9.8%
Acute neck pain n=32 n=3 n=6
78.0% 7.3% 14.6%
Chronic neck pain n=35 n=1 n=5
85.4% 2.4% 12.2%
Generalised back pain n=34 n=1 n=6
82.9% 2.4% 14.6%
Disc herniation with radicular pain n=9 n=22 n=8
23.1% 56.4% 20.5%
Disc herniation with neurological deficit n=3 n=29 n=8
7.5% 72.5% 20.0%
Osteoarthritis n=25 n=5 n=9
64.1% 12.8% 23.1%
Headaches n=24 n=7 n=9
60.0% 17.5% 22.5%
Asthma n=2 n=31 n=7
5.0% 77.5% 17.5%
Peripheral Tendonopathy/Tendonitis n=11 n=15 n=13
28.2% 38.5% 33.3%
Infantile colic n=8 n=27 n=5
20.0% 67.5% 12.5%
Joint stiffness n=23 n=10 n=7
57.5% 25.0% 17.5%
Rehabilitation n=23 n=10 n=7
57.5% 25.0% 17.5%
Poor mobility n=21 n=10 n=9
52.5% 25.0% 22.5%
9. Interactions between chiropractors and general practitioners
41 responses were received on the question asking if the respondent considered
chiropractic a primary healthcare profession, 64% agreed and 12% disagreed. Of
those GP’s who agreed with the statement 10% agreed strongly. See figure 9.
10%
54%
24%
12%
0%
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Fig. 9 - Pie chart identifying the responses of General Practitioners to the statement, “Chiropractic
is a Primary Healthcare Profession”
When asked if general practitioners have a responsibility to seek the best
available treatment for their patients 40 responses were gained (1 missing data
item). Of the 40 responses 100% agreed with the statement and 25 respondents
agreed strongly.
When asked if it would be advantageous to have general practitioners and
chiropractors working concurrently to improve the overall health of some patients
10% agreed strongly and 55% agreed. 40 of the participating GP’s responded to
this question (1 missing data item). The remaining 35% neither agreed nor
disagreed with the statement.
10. 41 general practitioners (no missing data items) responded when asked if they
would expect a chiropractor to inform them if they were treating a patient from
their surgery, 92.2% replied yes to this question and only 7.8% felt it was not
something they would expect.
% of General Practitioners who agreed with key questions regarding chiropractic care
100.0%
64.0% 65.0%
90.2%
General Practitioners have a
responsibility to seek the best
available treatment for their
patients
Chiropractic is a Primary
Healthcare Profession
It would be advantageous to
have general practitioners and
chiropractors working
concurrently to improve the
overall health of some patients
Would you expect a
chiropractor to inform you if
they were treating a patient
from your surgery
Fig. 10 – Graph showing the percentage of general practitioners who agreed with key questions
regarding chiropractic care.
When asked if they had ever had any exposure to chiropractic at University
during their training 41 responses were received (no missing data items), 92.7%
said that they had not had any exposure at all and 7.3% said that they had.
A 100% response rate was received when asked if the general practitioner’s in
the study had ever consulted or received a treatment from a chiropractor and the
results showed that 49.0% had done so and that 51.0% had never consulted or
received chiropractic treatment.
11. When asked if they were aware of the level of training and education involved to
study a chiropractic degree 41 responses were received and 58.5% said yes that
they were aware. On the question regarding length of study a total 40 responses
(1 missing data item) were gained and only 2.5% thought it was 1 year and 65%
of the respondents thought it was between 4 and 5 years. 32.5% thought the
degree took 3 years. See Figure 10 for actual awareness of chiropractic
education.
58.5%
41.5%
2.5%
0.0%
32.5%
30.0%
35.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
YES NO 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 5 Years
Years of Study for Chiropractic Degree
%ofGeneralPractitioners
Fig.10 - Graph showing pertained knowledge versus actual knowledge regarding
educational requirements in chiropractic.
Knowledge of chiropractic in government literature
On the subject of the use chiropractic in the literature, 41 responses were
12. received and on the two selected papers over 85% of the respondents were not
aware of the role of chiropractic in these reports. Of those that responded YES
14.6% said that they were aware of the role of chiropractic in the Musculoskeletal
Services Framework - A joint responsibility: doing it differently and 9.8% of its
role in the Bronfort Report, 2010, see figure 11.
Awareness of role of the chiropractor in the literature
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
YES NO
Response to literature
%ofGeneralPractitioners
The Musculoskelatal Services
Framework - A joint responsibility:
doing it differently
Bronfort et al: Effectiveness of
manual therapies: the UK evidence
report
Fig. 11 – Awareness of two key reports on chiropractic care within the NHS by surveyed general
practitioners.