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Table 4 Participant health characteristics for those who visited a chiropractor comparing those who reported a back problem (back problem, chronic back pain or sciatica) in last 12 months to those who did not (N = 1,129)

From: Who uses Australian chiropractic services?

  Visited chiropractor and had self reported back problem in the last 12 months1   
  No (N = 586) Yes (N = 543)   
Participant health characteristics Number % Number % OR (95% CI)2 P
Health rate (SF 12) [18]:       
- Fair/poor 82 14 83 15 REF 0.56
- Good/excellent 498 86 453 85 0.90 (0.63 - 1.29)  
Current smoker 87 15 114 21 1.53 (1.15 - 2.03) 0.003
Hazardous drinking [19] 99 17 98 18 1.09 (0.79 - 1.51) 0.61
Long term health problem limits daily activities 145 25 200 38 1.78 (1.33 - 2.37) <0.001
Arthritis in last 12 months 60 10 123 23 2.57 (1.91 - 3.46) <0.001
Cardiovascular disorder in last 12 months       
Stroke 2 0 4 1 2.14 (0.46 - 10.02) 0.34
Hypertension 71 12 89 16 1.43 (1.05 - 1.96) 0.02
Heart disease 8 1 19 3 2.59 (1.03 - 6.53) 0.04
Lipid disorder 57 10 63 12 1.21 (0.87 - 1.67) 0.26
Respiratory disorder in last 12 months       
Chronic sinusitis 26 4 53 10 2.33 (1.35 - 4.05) 0.003
Asthma 44 8 69 13 1.78 (1.21 - 2.61) 0.003
Emphysema 9 2 11 2 1.28 (0.47 - 3.52) 0.63
Dermatitis in last 12 months 38 6 61 11 1.81 (1.12 - 2.92) 0.02
Diabetes in last 12 months 28 5 26 5 1.00 (0.57 - 1.73) 0.99
Cancer in last 12 months 14 2 12 2 0.91 (0.49 - 1.68) 0.76
Depression in last 12 months 81 14 125 23 1.85 (1.30 - 2.64) 0.001
Depression and antidepressant use in last 12 months 32 6 62 12 2.23 (1.27 - 3.90) 0.005
Told by Dr you have depression 158 30 179 36 1.30 (0.99 - 1.71) 0.06
Anxiety in last 12 months 81 14 120 22 1.76 (1.22 - 2.55) 0.002
Told by doctor you have anxiety 127 25 126 26 1.08 (0.84 - 1.40) 0.52
Afraid of partner 97 17 87 16 0.95 (0.71 - 1.28) 0.73
Medication use in last 12 months:       
- Analgesics3 121 21 157 29 1.56 (1.17- 2.08) 0.003
- Medications for physical problems4 210 36 170 32 0.81 (0.64 - 1.03) 0.008
- Depression medications 71 12 79 15 1.24 (0.85 - 1.82) 0.23
- Sedatives 34 6 43 8 1.39 (0.81 - 2.38) 0.24
- Other medications5 119 29 135 35 1.36 (1.03 - 1.78) 0.03
- Complementary & alternative medication6 187 32 206 38 1.30 (1.02 - 1.64) 0.03
  1. 1. Denominators may vary due to missing data.
  2. 2. Odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P values using logistic regression using generalised estimating equations with robust standard errors.
  3. 3. Includes painkillers & arthritis medication.
  4. 4. Includes blood pressure, cholesterol lowering & asthma medication.
  5. 5. Includes contraceptives and indigestion medication.
  6. 6. Includes vitamins, minerals and herbs.
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Chiropractic & Manual Therapies

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