Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / It is well documented that the chiropractic profession has been searching for a unified professional identity. Acknowledging this need for a professional identity relevant to the public, the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) attempted to address these concerns by conducting an international questionnaire based Identity Consultation. However, of the 3689 chiropractors who responded, only 34 were from South Africa. Therefore this study aimed to determine the perception of South African chiropractors regarding their public identity and to compare the results with those from international studies. Objectives: To determine the demographic profile of South African chiropractors, and how they perceived their professional identity relative to their own opinions, those of the public and those of medical doctors. This study investigated how South African chiropractors saw their profession relative to physiotherapy and South African chiropractor’s knowledge of the WFC Identity Consultation. Method: The study was a population based demographic study making use of a descriptive, observational, cross sectional design. It was a quantitative selfadministered questionnaire distributed to those South African chiropractors meeting the inclusion criteria (n=398). The WFC Identity Consultation questionnaire was modified and developed by the researcher to suit a South African audience after permission was obtained from the chairperson of the WFC. Results: A response rate of 30.15% was obtained. Ninety percent of South African chiropractors felt that it was important for their profession to have a clear identity. However, only 1.7% agreed that it did have a clear identity. When asked how the public viewed chiropractic, 45% felt that the public had no clear perception of the profession, with 92.5% viewing it as Complementary and The Perceptions of South African Chiropractors, Regarding Their Professional Identity iv Alternative Medicine (CAM). However, 89.2% of South African chiropractors would like the public to perceive chiropractic as mainstream medicine. When asked how chiropractic was viewed by South African chiropractors relative to physiotherapy, it was agreed that they were two separate professions each with their own identity (74.2%). The chiropractic adjustment was seen as a strong brand advantage over physiotherapy. When asked how they thought medical doctors viewed chiropractic, 73.3% felt that they did not have a clear perception of the profession, with 96.7% considering medical doctors to view chiropractic as CAM. Medical doctors’ perceptions were considered to be very important with respect to inter-professional relations. Just over half (54.2%) of South African chiropractors knew about the WFC identity, less than half of whom (47.5%) agreed with it. Conclusions: The study revealed that there was a significant difference between how South African chiropractors thought the public and medical doctors currently perceived chiropractic and how they would like to be perceived. It revealed that like their international counterparts chiropractors in South Africa are striving for a unified identity that is different to the way they are currently perceived by the health care stakeholders.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / The Chiropractic profession has made significant progress with regard to the production of high quality and clinically relevant research in the last 20 years. This correlates with a spike in development within the chiropractic profession as well as its acceptance by the medical fraternity and public. The responsibility for continuing this positive trend is dependent on the chiropractic graduates and practitioners of the future. Therefore, it is important to establish the current perceptions and utilization of research by Chiropractors, so that future research can be built around the needs and requirements of today’s practitioners, thereby ensuring the profession’s continued development and future in health care. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions that Chiropractors have of research and its relevance / utilization in practice. Method: The study was a quantitative questionnaire based, self administered survey. The sample group included all Chiropractic practitioners currently practising in South Africa (N=515). Results: There was a response rate of 35% (n=174). The results indicated that the perception of research was very positive overall, with the strongest positive response being that research adds credibility to the profession. However, most respondents disagreed with the statement that chiropractors who had done research had an advantage above those who had not. There was a positive, albeit weak correlation between perceptions and utilization of research, indicating that as perceptions increased, so did utilization of research. The area of greatest concern was that even though a high degree of research utilization was reported by chiropractors, research was least likely to be used to change conditions, policies or practices in practice. v Conclusion: The most significant factors associated with positive perceptions and utilization were found to be publishing in a journal and receiving referrals from other health care practitioners. Chiropractors who indicated an interest in doing research again were also very positively linked to utilization. It would seem that even though chiropractors perceive research positively, their implementation into practice has some hurdles that impede the full integration of research into practice. As very few demographic and personal attributes of the South African chiropractor were found to be primarily responsible for low utilization of research in practice, it can be hypothesised that the factors impeding research implementation are most likely environmental in nature.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Tehcnology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Background: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, perception and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents as adjuncts to Chiropractic practice in South Africa. Method: This study was a population based cross sectional survey utilising a descriptive, quantitative questionnaire study design. The questionnaire was distributed to all practicing qualified Chiropractors (n=388) and masters Chiropractic students (n=102) in South Africa. Results: The results obtained (30.4% response rate), indicated that the majority of the respondents (62.8%) felt qualified to advise patients on vitamins and mineral supplements and had a positive view of the use of vitamins and minerals as part of Chiropractic patient management (86.6%). The majority of the practitioners were aware that topical substances are part of the scope of practice and males were nearly twice as likely as females to use them. The majority thought biopuncture should be available to Chiropractors (82%) and felt that Chiropractors should challenge the legislation to incorporate biopuncture as part of the scope of practice (77.5%). Most respondents agreed with the statement indicating that NSAIDS should be part of Chiropractic scope of practice and 71% of respondents felt that being able to use NSAIDS in non-emergency situations would enhance patient retention. This study revealed that amongst the student population the majority, if allowed, would consider administering pharmacological agents in practice (55.1%). Conclusion: A correlation exists between the perception, knowledge and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents in the Chiropractic profession with respect to the demographic data and there is a significant difference in opinion between qualified Chiropractors and Chiropractic masters students regarding perception, knowledge and utilisation of these adjuncts to practice.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Background: Considering the quadruple burden of disease and chronic shortages of health care professionals in South Africa, the stance of the chiropractic profession on public health (PH) matters has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the attitudes and perceptions of chiropractors practicing in South Africa on PH, health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP). The objectives were to determine demographic profile, lifestyle practices and attitudes and perceptions of practicing chiropractors in South Africa regarding PH agencies, HP and DP. Methods: An IRB approved quantitative survey (electronic and postal) was used to collect data from a total sample of practicing chiropractors in South Africa (meeting inclusion criteria). Follow up email and telephone calls were made to encourage response from participants. After a 17 - week period, returned questionnaires were collected and data analysed. Results: A response rate of 45% was obtained. Of the participants, 51.7% were female, 60.3% practiced in upper – middle income communities and 66.4% perceived themselves as neuro - musculoskeletal specialists. Over 90% of practitioners regularly counselled patients on postural habits, injury prevention and ergonomic risk reduction. Where as 35.1% agreed to counselling patients on STI / HIV prevention, tobacco cessation and related risks (41.4%), alcohol abuse (53.4%) and cancer prevention (56.9%). Regarding evidence – based practice (EBP) and PH agencies, 39.1% could not identify the statistical significance of the p value and 46% were unable to provide examples to journals they used to inform best practice. Similarly, 59% of the participants could not identify PH agencies to refer to for information on smoking cessation / risks or PH agencies to refer patients on HIV (57%), notifiable diseases (59%) and terminal illnesses (45%). Conclusion: The results suggest that chiropractors from this study were proficient on topics of DP, but were reletively less proficient in regards to PH, HP and EBP. It was recommended that further research be done regarding EBP within the profession and that greater emphasis be placed on topics of HP and PH in chiropractic training programmes.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Tehcnology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Background: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, perception and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents as adjuncts to Chiropractic practice in South Africa. Method: This study was a population based cross sectional survey utilising a descriptive, quantitative questionnaire study design. The questionnaire was distributed to all practicing qualified Chiropractors (n=388) and masters Chiropractic students (n=102) in South Africa. Results: The results obtained (30.4% response rate), indicated that the majority of the respondents (62.8%) felt qualified to advise patients on vitamins and mineral supplements and had a positive view of the use of vitamins and minerals as part of Chiropractic patient management (86.6%). The majority of the practitioners were aware that topical substances are part of the scope of practice and males were nearly twice as likely as females to use them. The majority thought biopuncture should be available to Chiropractors (82%) and felt that Chiropractors should challenge the legislation to incorporate biopuncture as part of the scope of practice (77.5%). Most respondents agreed with the statement indicating that NSAIDS should be part of Chiropractic scope of practice and 71% of respondents felt that being able to use NSAIDS in non-emergency situations would enhance patient retention. This study revealed that amongst the student population the majority, if allowed, would consider administering pharmacological agents in practice (55.1%). Conclusion: A correlation exists between the perception, knowledge and utilisation of vitamins and minerals, natural medicines and pharmacological agents in the Chiropractic profession with respect to the demographic data and there is a significant difference in opinion between qualified Chiropractors and Chiropractic masters students regarding perception, knowledge and utilisation of these adjuncts to practice.