Abstract
Background
Chiropractors have expressed both pro- and anti-vaccination opinions.
Purpose
We explored the interest of Alberta chiropractors in participating in immunization awareness and promoting activities.
Methods
Data were collected in a cross-sectional postal survey (response rate: 78.2%, 503 respondents) in 2002. Participants indicated their interests in a close-ended checklist of seven immunization awareness/promoting activities on 5-point scales. Analyses included frequencies and cross tabulations with demographic characteristics of respondents.
Results
More than 60% expressed at least some interest in participating in one or more activities. The three most popular activities were: call Public Health/doctor/nurses for information to answer questions on immunization (40%); refer parents to Public Health/doctors for information on immunization (39%); and display/give out pamphlets provided by Public Health on vaccines/immunization in office (29%).
Conclusion
Public health practitioners might consider providing chiropractors with contact information for questions on immunization as well as pamphlets on vaccines and immunization for office display.
Keywords: Chiropractic, immunization, cross-sectional studies, questionnaires, Canada, complementary therapies
Résmé
Contexte
Les chiropraticiens expriment des opinions pro- et anti-vaccins.
Objet
Nous avons étudié l’intérêt de chiropraticiens de l’Alberta à participer à des activités de sensibilisation et de promotion de la vaccination.
Méthode
Nous avons mené une enquête postale transversale (taux de réponse de 78,2 %, 503 répondants) en 2002. Les participants ont indiqué leurs intérêts, selon une échelle de 1 à 5, sur une liste fermée de sept activités de sensibilisation ou de promotion de la vaccination. Nous avons analysé la fréquence des réponses et établi des croisements avec le profil démographique des répondants.
Résultats
Plus de 60 % ont exprimé un certain intérêt à participer à une ou plusieurs activités. Les trois activités les plus populaires étaient les suivantes: demander par téléphone des renseignements sur la vaccination aux services de santé publique, aux médecins ou aux infirmières (40 %); aiguiller les parents vers des services de santé publique ou des médecins pour obtenir des renseignements sur la vaccination (39 %); et afficher ou distribuer dans leur cabinet des dépliants sur les vaccins ou sur la vaccination fournis par les services de santé publique (29 %).
Conclusion
Les praticiens de la santé publique devraient songer à fournir aux chiropraticiens les coordonnées d’intervenants pouvant répondre aux questions sur la vaccination, ainsi que des dépliants sur les vaccins et la vaccination pour leurs présentoirs.
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: This study was funded by the Alberta Children’s Hospital. We are grateful to the College of Chiropractors of Alberta for releasing to us the nominal listing of registrants for this study. We thank the anonymous chiropractors who participated in questionnaire development and pre-tests, and those who kindly participated in this study.
References
- 1.Chen RT. Vaccine risks: Real, perceived and unknown. Vaccine. 1999;17(Suppl3):41–46. doi: 10.1016/S0264-410X(99)00292-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Gangarosa EJ, Galazka AM, Wolfe CR, Phillips LM, Gangarosa RE, Miller E, et al. Impact of anti-vaccine movements on pertussis control: The untold story. Lancet. 1998;351:356–61. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)04334-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Jansen VAA, Stollenwerk N, Jensen HJ, Ramsay ME, Edmunds WJ, Rhodes CJ. Measles outbreaks in a population with declining vaccine uptake. Science. 2003;301(5634):804. doi: 10.1126/science.1086726. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997, results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1569–75. doi: 10.1001/jama.280.18.1569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Ramsay C, Walker M, Alexander J. Alternative medicine in Canada: Use and public attitudes. Public Policy Sources. 1999;21:3–31. [Google Scholar]
- 6.Millar WJ. Patterns of use–alternative health care practitioners. Health Reports. 2001;13(1):9–21. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Schmidt K, Ernst E. Survey shows that some homeopaths and chiropractors advise against MMR. Br Med J. 2002;325(7364):597. doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7364.597. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Lee ACC, Li DH, Kemper KJ. Chiropractic care for children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;154(4):401–7. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.154.4.401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Campbell JB, Busse JW, Injeyan S. Chiropractors and vaccination: A historical perspective. Pediatrics. 2000;105(4):E43. doi: 10.1542/peds.105.4.e43. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Ferrance RJ. Vaccinations: How about some facts for a change? J Can Chiropractic Assoc. 2002;46(3):167–72. [Google Scholar]
- 11.Russell ML, Injeyan HS, Verhoef JM, Eliasziw M. Beliefs and behaviours: Understanding chiropractors and immunization. Vaccine. 2004;23(3):372–79. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.05.027. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Russell ML, Mutasingwa DR, Verhoef MJ, Injeyan HS. Effect of a monetary incentive on chiropractors’ response rate and time to respond to a mail survey. J Clin Epidemiol. 2003;56:1027–28. doi: 10.1016/S0895-4356(03)00169-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Epi info, version 6: a word-processing, data-base, and statistics program for public health on IBM-compatible microcomputers. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000.
- 14.Rosner B. Fundamentals of Biostatistics. Boston, MA: Duxbury Press; 1986. [Google Scholar]
- 15.Gellin BG, Maibach EW, Marcuse EK. Do parents understand immunizations? A national telephone survey. Pediatrics. 2000;106(5):1097–102. doi: 10.1542/peds.106.5.1097. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Kulig J, Meyer CJ, Hill SA, Handley CE, Lichtenberger SM, Myck SL. Refusals and delay of immunization within Southwest Alberta. Can J Public Health. 2002;93(2):109–12. doi: 10.1007/BF03404549. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Roberts KA, Dixon-Woods M, Fitzpatrick R, Abrams KR, Jones DR. Factors affecting uptake of childhood immunization: A Bayesian synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence. Lancet. 2002;360:1596–99. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11560-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]