A survey of graduate perception of undergraduate chiropractic training

Objective: This study details the results of a recently conducted survey of Victorian chiropractors that sought practitioners' views on their personal education experience, present utilisation of skills and knowledge acquired during their training, and opinions on the future education needs of the profession. The study presents the views of those engaged at the coalface of chiropractic as the departure point for discussion regarding the content of undergraduate chiropractic training. Methods: A survey form was sent to all chiropractors registered to practice in the State of Victoria, Australia whose address was in Australia. The data collected was entered into the SPSSv15.0 statistics package for calculation of descriptive statistics. Cross-tabulations were performed using chi-squared values to determine effects within demographic groups. Results: Respondents overall agreed that they had received the right level of training in most of the elements listed. Not enough training was received in such things as physiological therapeutics, CRI and MRI, philosophy and public health, while too much training was considered to have been given in biochemistry and histology. Most respondents agreed that most if not all elements should be included in any chiropractic training program. Generally actual usage of many listed elements was lower than the rate of agreement for the amount of training received and that that they considered should received.