Gender diversity in chiropractic leadership: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the number of males and females in leadership positions, and whether there is a relationship between gender and degrees held in those positions, within chiropractic academic institutions, national regulatory bodies and the most widely representative national professional associations in the United States and Canada. METHODS: Publicly accessible websites from chiropractic institutions and organizations were used to collect data. Pearson χ2 tests of independence were conducted to determine the relationship between gender (male vs. female) and other variables, including position (principal vs secondary), and chiropractic and other advanced professional degrees. RESULTS: A total of 107 leaders were identified across institutions and organizations. Under one-third of leaders (30.8%) were identified as female. Males were more likely to be in principal leadership roles (86.2%) and more likely to be in a secondary leadership position (62.8%). CONCLUSION: Male leaders significantly outnumber female leaders in both principal and secondary leadership positions within American and Canadian chiropractic institutions. Strategies should be developed to include gender diversity within all chiropractic organizations.

CONTEXTE: Cette étude transversale visait à comparer le nombre d'hommes à celui de femmes occupant des postes de direction, et à savoir s'il existe un lien entre le sexe et les diplômes détenus par les titulaires de postes dans les établissements d'enseignement de la chiropratique, les organismes nationaux de réglementation et les associations professionnelles nationales les plus reconnues aux États-Unis et au Canada. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Des données ont été recueillies dans les sites Web accessibles au public des établissements chiropratiques. Des tests d'indépendance du shi-carré (χ2) ont été effectués pour établir le rapport hommesfemmes et le lien avec d'autres variables, notamment le rapport entre les postes de directeur principal et les postes de directeur adjoint, les diplômes en chiropratique et des diplômes d'études avancées. RÉSULTATS: On a recensé au total 107 directeurs de cliniques et d'organismes. Moins d'un tiers des titulaires de ces postes de direction (30,8 %) étaient des femmes. Les hommes étaient plus susceptibles d'occuper des postes de directeur principal (86,2 %) et des postes de directeur adjoint (62,8 %). CONCLUSION: Les hommes sont nettement plus nombreux que les femmes à occuper des postes de directeur principal ou de directeur adjoint dans les cliniques chiropratiques américaines et canadiennes. On devrait élaborer des stratégies visant à assurer la diversité des sexes dans toutes les cliniques chiropratiques.

Perceptions of Ontario chiropractors on business education in chiropractic schools.

OBJECTIVE: Chiropractic, as a business in the health care system, has a component of entrepreneurship. Therefore, it is important to have business education in chiropractic schools. This study examines perceptions of business education in chiropractic schools as evaluated by Ontario, Canada, practicing chiropractors. METHODS: We conducted a series of interviews with 16 chiropractors practicing in Ontario. Questions aimed at analyzing 2 levels of chiropractors' perceptions on the quality of business education they received. The questions were designed around 2 concepts: perceived level of business knowledge acquired and current level of knowledge for 6 business topics. The topics included accounting and finance, organizational behavior and human resources, legal and ethical issues, strategic management, managerial decision making, and operational management. Interview responses were analyzed by grouping significant statements into themes followed by descriptions of what and how the subjects experienced the phenomena. RESULTS: The interviews revealed that Ontario practicing chiropractors' requirements for education in business skills are both broad and essential, embracing most if not all major business domains. Many participants indicated that the status of business education in chiropractic schools is minimally contributing to business skills following graduation. CONCLUSION: Producing chiropractors with entrepreneurship skills requires enhanced business education in chiropractic schools. Perceptions of Ontario chiropractors reveal a gap between skill-oriented business training in chiropractic education and the skills needed to practice within the profession.

Response of Chiropractic Organizations to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Report.

Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe actions by chiropractic entities during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Large entities that support chiropractic education or practice were invited to participate in this report. Leaders of various entities were emailed an invitation. A designee who was assigned by the leader provided a brief synopsis of actions the entity had taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only entities that responded are included in this report. Results: Five entities agreed to participate: The Council on Chiropractic Education, Association of Chiropractic Colleges, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company. Common themes included (1) recognizing the crisis and taking action, (2) establishing a safe working environment for staff so that services could continue, (3) delivering communications to stakeholders (chiropractic students, practitioners, licensing boards, and others) to guide decisions and direct actions, and (4) continuing to monitor the situation and respond as new information becomes available. Conclusion: These entities serve a large portion of the chiropractic profession. They have been quick to respond in a responsible, compassionate, and supportive manner to assist chiropractic licensing boards, practitioners, and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings are encouraging as the chiropractic profession looks to the future as it navigates changes in education and the health care environment in the months and years ahead.

The relationship between chiropractor required and current level of business knowledge.

BACKGROUND: Chiropractors frequently practice within health care systems requiring the business acumen of an entrepreneur. However, some chiropractors do not know the relationship between the level of business knowledge required for practice success and their current level of business knowledge. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between chiropractors' perceived level of business knowledge required and their perceived level of current business knowledge. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-four participants completed an online survey (Health Care Training and Education Needs Survey) which included eight key business items. Participants rated the level of perceived business knowledge required (Part I) and their current perceived level of knowledge (Part II) for the same eight items. Data was collected from November 27, 2013 to December 18, 2013. Data were analyzed using Spearman's ranked correlation to determine the statistically significant relationships for the perceived level of knowledge required and the perceived current level of knowledge for each of the paired eight items from Parts I and II of the survey. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests were performed to determine the statistical difference between the paired items. RESULTS: The results of Spearman's correlation testing indicated a statistically significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation for the perceived level of knowledge required and perceived current level of knowledge for six variables: (a) organizational behavior, (b) strategic management, (c) marketing, (d) legal and ethical, (e) managerial decisions, and (f) operations. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks testing indicated a significant difference for three paired items: strategic management; marketing and; legal and ethical. The results suggest that relationships exist for the majority of business items (6 of 8) however a statistically difference was demonstrated in only three of the paired business items. CONCLUSION: The implications of this study for social change include the potential to improve chiropractors' business knowledge and skills, enable practice success, enhance health services delivery and positively influence the profession as a viable career.