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Table 2 Percentage (95% confidence interval) of chiropractic respondents ordering, undertaking, or recommending investigations

From: Management of people with acute low-back pain: a survey of Australian chiropractors

Investigation

Vignette 1

Vignette 2

Vignette 3

Vignette 4

Vignette 5*

N = 274

          

Lumbosacral plain x-ray

40

(34, 46)

52

(46, 58)

47

(41, 53)

40

(34, 46)

67

(62, 73)

Lumbosacral CT scan

0

(0, 2)†

2

(1, 4) †

18

(13, 22)

10

(7, 14)

4

(2, 7) †

Lumbosacral MRI

1

(0, 3) †

1

(0, 4) †

9

(5, 12)

4

(2, 7) †

2

(1, 5) †

Full spine plain x-ray

24

(19, 29)

32

(27, 38)

14

(10, 18)

25

(20, 30)

28

(23, 33)

None

34

(28, 39)

14

(9, 18)

20

(15, 25)

28

(23, 34)

3

(1, 6) †

Overall x-ray guideline adherence

37

(31, 43)

16

(12, 20)

39

(33, 45)

37

(31, 43)

95

(91, 97) †‡

  1. * The only vignette where guideline recommends plain x-ray and not advice to stay active
  2. Note: For Vignettes 1-4, x-ray guideline adherence is defined as the number of participants not ordering any type of x-ray (e.g., lumbosacral, full spine, AP lateral, pelvic)
  3. Note: For Vignette 5, x-ray guideline adherence is defined as the number of participants ordering some type of x-ray (e.g., lumbosacral, full spine, AP lateral, pelvic)
  4. † Exact binomial confidence calculated [14]
  5. ‡ Based on 273 participants.