Lee Wai Ting, Chu Eric Chun-Pu, Cheng Wing Ka
Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre, New York Medical Group, Hong Kong, CHN.
Cureus. 2024 Oct 2;16(10):e70734. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70734. eCollection 2024 Oct.
Objective This study aimed to explore registered chiropractors' perceptions of the use of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) by non-registered practitioners in Hong Kong, assessing the associated risks, adverse events, and patient management approaches. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among registered chiropractors in Hong Kong using an online questionnaire. The survey, distributed via chiropractic associations from January 26 to March 20, 2024, gathered data on the practitioners' experiences with patients previously treated by non-registered practitioners, including the types of adverse events observed and subsequent interventions required. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A total of 134 valid responses were received. Results Among respondents, a significant proportion (91%) of chiropractors reported observing adverse effects in patients treated by non-registered practitioners, with the most common issues being the aggravation of existing symptoms (95.5%) and new or unexpected complaints (82.8%). The most frequently required interventions included imaging (97%), medication (58.2%), and specialist referrals (59%). Respondents indicated that these adverse events could often have been prevented if proper training and certification were in place. Common reasons cited by patients for seeking care from non-registered practitioners included a lack of awareness about licensed care (90.3%) and cost considerations (80.6%). Conclusion The study highlights concerns reported by registered chiropractors regarding the safety of SMT performed by non-registered practitioners in Hong Kong. These concerns emphasize the need for enhanced public education on potential risks and stricter regulatory oversight. Although direct data on the occurrence of adverse events was not collected, the findings suggest that many risks could potentially be mitigated with proper training, underscoring the importance of credentialed care in ensuring patient safety.
目的 本研究旨在探讨香港注册脊医对非注册从业者使用脊椎手法治疗（SMT）的看法，评估相关风险、不良事件及患者管理方法。方法 采用在线问卷对香港注册脊医进行横断面调查。该调查于2024年1月26日至3月20日通过脊医协会分发，收集了从业者对先前由非注册从业者治疗的患者的经验数据，包括观察到的不良事件类型及随后所需的干预措施。使用描述性统计分析数据。共收到134份有效回复。结果 在受访者中，很大比例（91%）的脊医报告称在非注册从业者治疗的患者中观察到了不良反应，最常见的问题是现有症状加重（95.5%）和新的或意外的症状（82.8%）。最常需要的干预措施包括影像学检查（97%）、药物治疗（58.2%）和专科转诊（59%）。受访者表示，如果有适当的培训和认证，这些不良事件通常是可以预防的。患者寻求非注册从业者治疗的常见原因包括对持证治疗缺乏认识（90.3%）和费用考虑（80.6%）。结论 该研究突出了香港注册脊医对非注册从业者进行SMT安全性的担忧。这些担忧强调了加强公众对潜在风险的教育以及更严格监管的必要性。尽管未收集不良事件发生的直接数据，但研究结果表明，通过适当培训可潜在减轻许多风险，强调了有资质护理在确保患者安全方面的重要性。
