| Rationale: Research has suggested that psychosocial factors can have an influence on pain perception. Chiropractors deal with patients who are in pain on a day-to-day basis; therefore, psychosocial factors might be important for them to consider. However, to date there has been limited research on chiropractors’ incorporation of psychosocial factors in the treatment of patients. Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate chiropractors’ perceptions on the use of psychosocial factors in their overall patient management. Design: Questionnaire-based postal survey. Subjects: All 221 chiropractors of the Netherlands Chiropractic Association (NCA). Methods: A questionnaire was sent out at the beginning of September 2009. Non-responders were contacted by telephone approximately two months later. Results: The response rate was 71% (n = 156). The majority (91%, n = 142) of the 156 responding chiropractors in this study agreed that psychosocial factors are important to consider in their patients’ pain presentations. Seventy-six per cent (n = 118) of chiropractors evaluated the presence of psychosocial factors in their patients on a regular basis. The psychosocial factors that were identified were managed on a regular basis by 39% (n = 61) of chiropractors. About half (48%, n = 75) of chiropractors would like to have training in evaluating and managing psychosocial factors in their practice. Conclusions: Most chiropractors appeared to be aware of the influence that psychosocial factors have on pain perception. However, whilst most chiropractors reported evaluation of the presence of psychosocial factors in their patients on a regular basis, they did not report routine management or comfort with management. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text by subscription.
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