Page 12 - BackSpace October 2017

Research
Research Corner:
Chiropractic needs chiropractic researchers. Who will answer the call?
MANY OF you who follow the news in BACKspace will have read about the recent subsidy awarded by ECCRE
to fund the BACE (BAck Complaints in Elders) study.
This new project is modelled
after a primary care initiative currently being conducted in
the Netherlands, Australia and Brazil. BACE is supported by
an international consortium consisting of world leaders who conduct research in low-back pain. The current idea is to run
a similar study in chiropractic practices in the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands, resulting in a PhD for the chiropractor running the study.
Once funding had been approved, we drafted an advertisement for the position and posted this internationally via the usual channels, such as email and social media. We even targeted chiropractic schools
in the UK and Denmark. As
too often is the case, there were relatively few who applied. The uptake for chiropractic remains disappointing. I spoke to many capable chiropractors who were interested in the position, but many preferred the assurance and financial reward that a chiropractic practice provides. Understandable.
Richard Brown once wrote: “Research is the currency of the chiropractic profession.” The recent development of ECCRE has made research financially possible. This hasn’t always
been the case. When I started working on my PhD in 2004, I was granted €40,000 from the ECU, half of which went towards supporting my research assistant, while the remaining sum went to support me financially for four years while I took time away from my practice! Needless to say, this placed a great strain on me and my family. Thankfully, funding these days is much better; however, we still need researchers to conduct the studies. I have spoken to several chiropractic colleagues who lament that there are proposals waiting to be conducted, but no one to conduct them! This is a cry to all chiropractors reading this that we need researchers!
What is required of
a researcher? What qualities must he/she have?
Firstly, someone who is inquisitive and seeks the truth in as much the ‘truth’ is to be ascertained. Research can never prove a hypothesis, only refute it, so the ‘truth’ always remains
relative. Nonetheless, there
needs to be a desire from within. Passion. Secondly, and perhaps importantly, there should be a desire to improve patient care. After all, if we are not conducting research to improve the lives of patients, what is the point?
What has to happen and how can we change this?
For those who are interested, begin with a simple course in epidemiology. Modules or online tutorials are available. Learn the language of research. Learn what incidence and prevalence is. Learn what an odds ratio and relative risk ratio are and what they mean.
Then participate in practice- based research networks when possible and learn what it means to collect data. There have
been several such initiatives
over the past years in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Use Care Response to help monitor outcomes for patients. It will not only help you to care for your patients, but give you a better idea of what it means to collect and work with data.
I am also happy to report that, although there are initiatives to stimulate current researchers, we
need to stimulate chiropractors while they are still in chiropractic college. Research needs to become sexy! Seek a mentor
who can guide you. When I was studying chiropractic, a certain Scott Haldeman was looking
for a ‘research associate’ to help him write up some case reports. I had completed my MSc prior to starting chiropractic school and had put this behind me. I wasn’t particularly interested in an academic career nor pursuing research. I certainly had no idea who Scott Haldeman was at the time, but was looking for some extra pocket money. During
my time working for him, Scott encouraged me to pursue a PhD. His wise words and that encounter stuck with me and stimulated me to work on my PhD many years later. So, to my colleagues who are in the position to nurture young researchers-in-waiting, be kind
to them! And to experienced practitioners who have not yet entered the world of research, it is never too late.
Sidney Rubinstein, DC, PhD
s.m.rubinstein@vu.nl
Madrid research prize awarded
THE LAST edition of BACKspace published a
call for research entries for the Queen Maria Christina Award for original and unpublished chiropractic research, sponsored by Banco Santander. The
2017 prize, worth €3,000, was
awarded to Jens Anders Dag- Kjersem DC of Ålesund, Norway, a 1968 Palmer College graduate.
Maria Christina University also reports that research by Dr Arantxa Ortega de Mues offers promising results suggesting that the Activator V tool, when
used on laboratory rats, reversed osteoporosis.
The paper is available at https://tinyurl.com/y8hj22cj
Arantxa Ortega de Mues speaking at Activator Methods
12 BACKspace www.chiropractic-ecu.org October 2017