Table 5 Improvement of research efforts*

Acceptance

• Acceptance of chiropractic in the health system (Germany only)

• Carefully position ourselves into a position of demand before jumping into Ins.

• 3rd party payers

• Educating the public about chiropractic

• First, chiropractic in Germany needs to be recognized before resources (time, effort, money) can be allocated to research.

• First, chiropractic should be a protected profession before we put effort in research because the results will be mixed with therapists who do chiropractic but are not allowed to.

• Start changing minds through information: "health comes from within" needs to be reinforced

• More practitioners in Germany (too few)

• Organize the profession

Collaboration

• A coordinated center with true PhD researchers working with Chiropractors

• Establish a European/German researching body/organization.

• Get Universities involved

• Set up a chiropractic school working with medical researchers

• Support of scientists by the national associations

• Work close together with other practitioners outside & within our practices to further our knowledge

• Greater exchange of information and experience between DC's

• Raising an obligatory contribution by national associations of their individual members together with the membership dues

Research

• Evaluating chiropractic care for musculoskeletal problems

• Evaluating chiropractic care in general

• More manuscripts published by German chiropractors for specific musculoskeletal conditions

• Ongoing access (only for chiros) by website as to the progress of projects.

• Suggest input parameters before projects from field doctors.

• Teach research methodology in a seminar

• The colleges must educate students to do research – it takes people who are interested and capable to conduct meaningful research

• More money

Comparison

• Comparison between Chiropractic Care & Medical care for Musculoskeletal conditions

• DC successes in comparison to other health professions in general

• Distance ourselves from resembling what medicine does

• Distinguish ourselves for where our best contribution is (a Chiropractic Adjustment)

• To show the difference in treatments between Chiropractors vs. Manual Therapists vs. Osteopaths vs. Physios

Publications

• German Journals

• Have studies translated in to German

• More manuscripts published by German chiropractors for specific musculoskeletal conditions

• More publishings in German magazines, etc. of efficacy of chiropractic care for musculoskeletal conditions

• Talk with other chiropractors about experiences and put them together in a paper

Other comments

• Form a school

• Information

• Support

• Think as a profession and not as individuals

• I do not think that research should be a priority in Germany at this point

• Don't know

• n/a

• ?