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Are Chiropractors Interested in Participating in Immunization Awareness and Promotion Activities?

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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.

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada

    Margaret L. Russell MD, PhD, FRCPC & Marja J. Verhoef PhD

  2. Department of Pathology & Microbiology, Division of Biological Sciences, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, ON, Canada

    H. Stephen Injeyan DC, PhD

Authors
  1. Margaret L. Russell MD, PhD, FRCPC
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  2. Marja J. Verhoef PhD
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  3. H. Stephen Injeyan DC, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret L. Russell MD, PhD, FRCPC.

Additional information

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.

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Russell, M.L., Verhoef, M.J. & Injeyan, H.S. Are Chiropractors Interested in Participating in Immunization Awareness and Promotion Activities?. Can J Public Health 96, 194–196 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403689

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403689

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