• McAulay BJ
• Newlin SS

• Association of Chiropractic Colleges / congresses

METHODS: The four outcome variables were income, patient volume, patient retention and low job stress. The antecedent variables studied were ability to analyze the spine well, smoothly run practice operations, the chiropractor being sincere to patients, the chiropractor’s ability to correct subluxations, the ability to educate patients capably, having an effective fee system, having a family emphasis in practice, the chiropractor having an advanced knowledge set, the chiropractor having a “good” personality, being able to satisfy patients, the chiropractor being “on purpose”, getting symptomatic results, the chiropractor having good “sales” skills, having a service ethic and having an effective staff. Descriptive statistics were generated. In addition, reliability of the instrument was explored by calculating Cronbach’s alpha for each variable. Pearson’s correlations coefficients were calculated, to explore potential causality, and to rule out multicolinearity.

In addition, 12 hypotheses were developed using the variables. The hypotheses are testable empirically, using the instrument as developed and employing either multiple regression or structural equation modeling to more explicitly understand the sources and outcomes of success in practice. The hypotheses are as follows: hypotheses 1-3, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between each of the three business acumen variables (level of satisfaction with educational preparation to have smooth clinic operations, an effective staff and an effective fee system), with financial success; hypothesis 4, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of satisfaction with the educational experience to prepare the respondent to communicate well with patients, and patient volume; hypothesis 5, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of perception of a doctor having a good personality, and patient retention. hypotheses 6-8, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of satisfaction with the educational experience to prepare the respondent in knowledge (6), clinical skills (7), and getting good symptomatic results (8) and practice volume; hypothesis 9 and 10, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of commitment to chiropractic (9) and having a service ethic in practice (10), with patient volume; hypothesis 11, there is a statistically significant negative relationship between the level of stress in practice and being successful financially; and hypothesis 12, there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of clinical skills and getting good symptomatic results in practice.

RESULTS: There were 600 surveys distributed, and 239 completed surveys were received. Completed surveys were analyzed for basic statistical characteristics.

DISCUSSION: This study has extended earlier work in moving toward a valid and reliable, generalizable survey instrument to measure the degree of success in chiropractic practice, and to identify potential antecedent variables. The results are of interest to chiropractic educators and others whose interest lies in equipping practitioners with sufficient skills to succeed in practice.

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher.