Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study
Abstract Background Chiropractic patients are generally satisfied with the care received. It is unclear if this also applies to Danish patients with lumbar radiculopathy included in a standardised chiropractic care package (SCCP). This study aimed to investigate patient satisfaction and explore pers...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-023-00486-0 |
| _version_ | 1797822764295389184 |
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| author | Rikke Krüger Jensen Sille Lillesø Jack Starche Jensen Mette Jensen Stochkendahl |
| author_facet | Rikke Krüger Jensen Sille Lillesø Jack Starche Jensen Mette Jensen Stochkendahl |
| author_sort | Rikke Krüger Jensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chiropractic patients are generally satisfied with the care received. It is unclear if this also applies to Danish patients with lumbar radiculopathy included in a standardised chiropractic care package (SCCP). This study aimed to investigate patient satisfaction and explore perspectives on the SCCP for lumbar radiculopathy. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed methods design with three separate phases was used. Phase one was a quantitative analysis based on a survey in a prospective cohort of patients with lumbar radiculopathy in an SCCP from 2018 to 2020. Patients rated their satisfaction with the examination, information, treatment effect, and overall management of their problem on a 0–10 scale. In phase two, six semi-structured interviews conducted in 2021 were used to gain further explanatory insights into the findings from phase one. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. In phase three, the quantitative and qualitative data were merged in a narrative joint display to obtain a deeper understanding of the overall results. Results Of 303 eligible patients, 238 responded to the survey. Of these, 80–90% were very satisfied (≥ 8) when asked about the examination, information, and overall management, whereas 50% were very satisfied with the treatment effect. The qualitative analysis led to the emergence of four themes: ‘Understanding the standardised care packages’, ‘Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect’, ‘Information about diagnosis and prognosis’, and ‘Interdisciplinary collaboration’. The joint display analysis showed that high patient satisfaction with the examination could be explained by the patients’ feeling of being carefully and thoroughly examined by the chiropractor and by referrals to MRI. Advice and information given to patients on variations in symptoms and the expected prognosis were considered reassuring. Satisfaction with the chiropractor’s coordination of care and with referral to other healthcare professionals was explained by the patients’ positive experiences of coordinated care and their sense of alleviated responsibility. Conclusion Overall, patients were satisfied with the SCCP for lumbar radiculopathy. From a patient’s perspective, the consultation should include a thorough examination and a focus on communication and information relating to symptoms and prognosis, while expectations regarding the content and efficacy of the treatment should be addressed and aligned. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:13:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1d3763901484335b895a1d38b98a991 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:13:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1d3763901484335b895a1d38b98a9912023-05-21T11:21:59ZengBMCChiropractic & Manual Therapies2045-709X2023-05-0131111210.1186/s12998-023-00486-0Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods studyRikke Krüger Jensen0Sille Lillesø1Jack Starche Jensen2Mette Jensen Stochkendahl3Department of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkAbstract Background Chiropractic patients are generally satisfied with the care received. It is unclear if this also applies to Danish patients with lumbar radiculopathy included in a standardised chiropractic care package (SCCP). This study aimed to investigate patient satisfaction and explore perspectives on the SCCP for lumbar radiculopathy. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed methods design with three separate phases was used. Phase one was a quantitative analysis based on a survey in a prospective cohort of patients with lumbar radiculopathy in an SCCP from 2018 to 2020. Patients rated their satisfaction with the examination, information, treatment effect, and overall management of their problem on a 0–10 scale. In phase two, six semi-structured interviews conducted in 2021 were used to gain further explanatory insights into the findings from phase one. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. In phase three, the quantitative and qualitative data were merged in a narrative joint display to obtain a deeper understanding of the overall results. Results Of 303 eligible patients, 238 responded to the survey. Of these, 80–90% were very satisfied (≥ 8) when asked about the examination, information, and overall management, whereas 50% were very satisfied with the treatment effect. The qualitative analysis led to the emergence of four themes: ‘Understanding the standardised care packages’, ‘Expectations regarding consultation and treatment effect’, ‘Information about diagnosis and prognosis’, and ‘Interdisciplinary collaboration’. The joint display analysis showed that high patient satisfaction with the examination could be explained by the patients’ feeling of being carefully and thoroughly examined by the chiropractor and by referrals to MRI. Advice and information given to patients on variations in symptoms and the expected prognosis were considered reassuring. Satisfaction with the chiropractor’s coordination of care and with referral to other healthcare professionals was explained by the patients’ positive experiences of coordinated care and their sense of alleviated responsibility. Conclusion Overall, patients were satisfied with the SCCP for lumbar radiculopathy. From a patient’s perspective, the consultation should include a thorough examination and a focus on communication and information relating to symptoms and prognosis, while expectations regarding the content and efficacy of the treatment should be addressed and aligned.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-023-00486-0RadiculopathyStandardised care packageChiropracticPatient satisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Rikke Krüger Jensen Sille Lillesø Jack Starche Jensen Mette Jensen Stochkendahl Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study Chiropractic & Manual Therapies Radiculopathy Standardised care package Chiropractic Patient satisfaction |
| title | Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study |
| title_full | Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study |
| title_short | Patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy. A mixed methods study |
| title_sort | patient expectations and levels of satisfaction in chiropractic treatment for lumbar radiculopathy a mixed methods study |
| topic | Radiculopathy Standardised care package Chiropractic Patient satisfaction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-023-00486-0 |
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