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Table 3 Items identified during phase 1

From: The first research agenda for the chiropractic profession in Europe

I. Epidemiological and clinical research

A. Effects of treatment 1) Should more research be conducted in the following areas?

- Cost-effectiveness (i.e. conduct economic evaluations)

- Maintenance care

- Short-term effects (<3 months)

- Sub-groups likely to respond to care

- Safety/adverse events

- Dose–response and frequency of treatment

- Comparison of different chiropractic techniques

- Other?

2) Should more research be conducted on chiropractic treatment effects and responses upon:

- Musculoskeletal pain?

- Other?

3) Should more research be conducted on chiropractic treatment effects and responses in any of the following specific populations?

- Infants and babies

- Pre-school and children

- Adolescents

- Geriatrics

- Pregnant women

- Athletes

- Other

B. Prognostic research 1) Should more prognostic research be conducted on the clinical course of musculoskeletal pain (for the identification of subgroups) in:

- A chiropractic population?

- Population treated by other health care practitioners?

2) Should we examine any of the following specific factors as predictors of outcome with chiropractic treatment?

- Psychosocial factors

- Clinical findings

- Other

C. Prevalence/incidence/prevention/population studies of musculoskeletal conditions 1) Should we examine prevalence/incidence/prevention of musculoskeletal conditions in the following specific patient populations?

- Infants and babies

- Pre-school and children

- Adolescents

- Geriatrics

- Pregnant women

- Athletes

- Other

2) Should we examine the following specific topics?

- Determinants of work absenteeism for musculoskeletal conditions

- Descriptive studies on clinics, chiropractors and patients in all ECU member countries

- Risk factors for incidence of musculoskeletal pain

- Prevention of musculoskeletal pain in primary and secondary care

- Other

D. Issues of chiropractic practice - Should we examine:

- The clinician-patient relationship

- Who are the care seekers and what triggers their care seeking

- Other

II. Basic science research

A. Anatomy and physiology 1) Should we investigate the anatomical and/or (neuro)physiological basis of:

- Musculoskeletal pain?

- Other?

2) Should we investigate the anatomical and/or (neuro)physiological basis of chiropractic treatment effects and responses upon:

- Musculoskeletal pain?

- Other?

B. Biomechanics - Should we investigate the biomechanics of:

- Spinal manipulative therapy

- Different manipulative and manual techniques, as a basis for comparison

- Other

C. Diagnostic - Should we investigate the following methods and techniques for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain:

- Imaging e.g. MRI, PET, CT, ultrasound

- Postural and movement patterns

- Thermal imaging and electromyography (EMG)

- Eye movement patterns and visual perception

- Other

D. Theoretical concepts - Should we investigate the theories and/or theoretical models of:

- The phases of spinal degeneration

- The fixation/subluxation

- Other

III. Education

Should we examine:

- How student selection is conducted and how to select the best students

- Curriculum design and implementation of curricula

- Modes of delivery of postgraduate education

- Philosophy of chiropractic care