Practice characteristics of chiropractors in The Netherlands

Characteristics of Chiropractors and their Patients in Belgium

“…Still, a very small percentage (1%) of their patients present with nonmusculoskeletal complaints, which is consistent with figures found in the Netherlands. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] These results differ from those from one North American study in the late 1990s reporting that 10.3% of the patients present with nonmusculoskeletal complaints, ranging from allergies and overfatigue to asthma. 15 Hawk et al 19 already reported that the reality is likely to be different than the perception; although two thirds of the Belgian chiropractors see the treatment of visceral complaints within their scope of practice, the figures found in this study (1% nonmusculoskeletal complaints) support the finding of Hawks et al that patients see a chiropractor for musculoskeletal problems.…”

“…Only 10% of the participating chiropractors share facilities with other health care professionals, which corresponds with the number found in the Netherlands. 13 Chiropractors in Belgium primarily focus on the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints, with an emphasis on the spine. This statement can be supported by looking at the nature of the complaints of the patients presenting to the chiropractor in Belgium (Table 4); in total, 85.5% of their patients have LBP and/or neck pain with or without radiation to the leg, arm, or head as chief complaint.…”

“…In general, the sociodemographic characteristics of both the chiropractors and the patients are in line with previously published data from North America and other countries in Europe. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In the United States, chiropractic is a large and wellestablished health care profession. 14,15,17 That situation is different in Europe where the chiropractic profession is less well established; whereas Denmark still has 1 chiropractor per 12 000 inhabitants, 5 the chiropractic profession in Belgium-with only 1 chiropractor per 76 000 inhabitants-is a small player within the Belgian health care system.…”

“…[4][5][6][7]15 The characteristics of chiropractors have also been described in detail in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Finland. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In 2004, according to the statistics of the Belgian federal government, 16 1.5% of the Belgian population consulted a chiropractor; this implies that more than 150 000 people were treated by doctors of chiropractic that year. At the time of the study and according to the administrative council of the Belgian Chiropractic Union (BCU), there are 101 practicing chiropractors representing 139 private practices, averaging 1 chiropractic practice per 76 000 inhabitants.…”

Radiographic Anomalies That May Alter Chiropractic Intervention Strategies Found in a New Zealand Population

“…The concern for inappropriate use of radiography by chiropractors in The Netherlands prompted the government to prohibit chiropractors from owning any further x-ray equipment. 8 For the sake of patient safety, professional responsibility, and credibility within the scientific community, the chiropractic profession must take it upon itself to reduce unnecessary radiography or they may find that someone else will do it for them. …”