Development of chiropractic nomenclature through consensus.

OBJECTIVES

The establishment of nomenclature is a sign of maturity in any field. Each discipline formally adopts or sanctions the terminology based by its practitioners.

METHODS

Description of the development of chiropractic nomenclature through consensus methodology. A model was designed as an algorithm to outline steps leading to broad geographical and philosophical agreement.

RESULTS

Moving through a regional nominal panel to an international Delphi panel, consensus at the 80% level of agreement was obtained for 10 terms and definitions commonly used by the chiropractic profession.

CONCLUSIONS

It is recommended that the chiropractic profession adopt the 10 terms and definitions that reached the 80% consensus level as part of chiropractic nomenclature.