Prevalence of nonmusculoskeletal versus musculoskeletal cases in a chiropractic student clinic

Abstract

Objective: We sought to identify the percentage of nonmusculoskeletal and musculoskeletal conditions treated by interns in the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) Student Clinic compared to chiropractic and allopathic health care professionals. Methods: The information gathered was taken from the charts of patients treated in the fall trimester, dated September 12, 2011 through December 9, 2011. The data collected included ICD-9 codes for the conditions treated, the number of patient visits, age, and gender, and was evaluated using Microsoft Excel. Results: Over half of the 113 eligible patients were women with a mean patient age of 28 years, an average of three treated diagnoses, and a mean of seven treatments. Those treated only for musculoskeletal conditions totaled 52% of the patients; 48% of the patients were treated for nonmusculoskeletal conditions, or musculoskeletal plus nonmusculoskeletal conditions. Conclusion: The NUHS Student Clinic interns are treating a greater percentage of nonmusculoskeletal conditions and a lesser percentage of musculoskeletal conditions than practicing chiropractic physicians. The student interns also treat a lesser percentage of nonmusculoskeletal and a greater percentage of musculoskeletal conditions than allopathic practitioners. This comparison would suggest that NUHS is nearing its institutional goal of training its student interns as primary care practitioners.

Patient characteristics upon initial presentation to chiropractic teaching clinics: A descriptive study conducted at one university

“…6 This clearly is at odds with the findings of some other studies. 3,4 While neither of the percentages makes up a substantial part of chiropractic practice (either teaching clinics or field practices), students are taught to Table 1 for ''other musculoskeletal'' (1.3%) and ''chest'' (0.5%) were combined into ''soft tissue'' to better compare chief complaint categories to ICD-9 categories.…”

“…6 They noted that a greater percentage of nonmusculoskeletal conditions were seen in the student clinic in comparison with those among practicing chiropractors. 4 In contrast, a study conducted by Lishchyna and Mior 3 that compared an external teaching clinic to surrounding chiropractic field practitioners, found similarities in patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Key components to both studies were the importance of providing students with a variety of cases during clinical learning opportunities that would prepare them for future practice.…”

“…[2][3][4][5] In the most recent study, Hodges et al 4 addressed nonmusculoskeletal versus musculoskeletal cases seen in a chiropractic student clinic compared to those seen among practitioners based on the Practice Analysis of Chiropractic 2010. 6 They noted that a greater percentage of nonmusculoskeletal conditions were seen in the student clinic in comparison with those among practicing chiropractors.…”