The perceptions of Hong Kong chiropractors of their profession

Abstract

Background: The chiropractic profession has endured many challenges and obstacles in its development. However professional identity is currently said to be at crossroad. Practitioners’ are divided on whether to remain as complementary alternative medicine (CAM) or integrate into the mainstream health system. Objective: This study investigated Hong Kong chiropractic profession’s opinions concerning identity, core values, scope of practice, and CAM or mainstream integration. Methods: A 31-item cross-sectional electronic questionnaire was developed encompassing 7 domains: public perception, self-identity, core values, scope of practice, research, complementary alternative medicine or mainstream medicine and future development. All active practicing chiropractors in Hong Kong were invited to complete the online survey. Result: Key findings included: (a) majority of respondents uphold the core values of the spine of central importance, and the importance of the traditional lexicon of vertebral subluxation complex; (b) no clear division in terms of self-identity in relation to straight and mixer; (c) the majority of the respondents perceive chiropractors being more than a musculoskeletal specialist only; (d) majority of the respondents consider chiropractic should be integration into mainstream health system. Conclusion: The chiropractors in this study showed a similar pattern as other countries on the desire to retain the traditional chiropractic philosophy of core value and lexicon and the preference to be integrated into mainstream health care system. The simplistic straight and mixer dichotomous identity and the tension among them suggested in the literature requires further research.