Skip to main content

Table 3 Characteristics of patients (n = 325)

From: Outcomes of a pilot study in chiropractic practices in Western Australia

(a) Age, demographics, payment and lifestyle

Chiropractic patients

Age, years (mean, SD)

36.3 (12.46)

Gender (female)

Proportion (%) (n)

52.3 (170)

Language (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse)a

6.5 (21)

Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander

 Yes

0.3 (1)

 Prefer not to answer

0.9 (3)

 Missing

0.3 (1)

Occupation

 Managers / Professionals

31.7 (103)

 Clerical and administrative

12.3 (40)

 Technicians and trades

10.5 (34)

 Home duties

9.2 (30)

 Sales workers

5.8 (19)

 Student

7.4 (24)

 Community & personal service

4.9 (16)

 Machinery operators and drivers

4.6 (15)

 Labourers

4.3 (14)

 Other

3.7 (12)

 Retired

4.0 (13)

 Unemployed

1.5 (5)

Source of payment

 Private health insurance

58.8 (191)

 Patient paid 100 %

17.8 (58)

 Co-payment

16.6 (54)

 No Charge

7.7 (25)

 Workers compensation

2.2 (7)

 Insurance Commission WA (MVA)

0.3 (1)

 Department of Veterans’ Affairs

0.3 (1)

Lifestyle

 Smoking (yes)

11.7 (38)

 (no)

74.2 (241)

 (past)

14.2 (46)

Alcohol consumption, drinks/week

 0

40.9 (133)

 1-7

44.6 (145)

 7-14

10.8 (35)

  > 14

3.7 (12)

Medication/Supplement use

Prescription/week

 

 0

65.2 (212)

 1

24.0 (78)

 2

6.8 (22)

  ≥ 3

3.9 (13)

Over the Counter

 0

75.7 (246)

 1

18.2 (59)

 2

4.9 (16)

  ≥ 3

1.2 (4)

Supplements

 0

52.9 (172)

 1

21.2 (69)

 2

12.0 (39)

  ≥ 3

13.8 (45)

(b) Co-Morbidities and Previous Chiropractic

 

Co-morbidities

 No other diagnosis

82.7 (273)

 Depression

10.2 (33)

 Cancer

2.7 (9)

 Respiratory Disease

2.7 (9)

 Diabetes

2.1 (7)

 Cardiovascular Disease

1.8 (6)

 Neurological Disorder

0.6 (2)

 Any co-morbidity

20.3b (66)

 Attendance at previous chiropractor

48.6 (158)

  1. a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse = Non-English Speaking Background
  2. Categorical variables are shown as percentages andnb Conditions could be flagged multiple times by each patient, therefore total may ≠ 100 %