A survey of the perceptions and behaviors of chiropractic interns pertaining to evidence-based principles in clinical decision making

Objective: This study explored how chiropractic interns applied evidenced-based concepts, the sources of evidence they used, and how useful they perceived these sources to be in clinical decision making. Methods: A questionnaire containing 13 items in a Likert 5-point scale was administered to 28 chiropractic interns to gather information on the evidence types they commonly accessed and their perceived usefulness of these sources in clinical decision making. The interns were in the 8th semester of the training program. Results: There was a 93% (n = 26) response rate. Clinical guidelines were rated as the most helpful resource in clinical decision making (81%), followed by lecture materials (77%), journals (54%), databases (50%), and textbooks (35%). Students recognized scientific evidence as the most important aspect in clinical decision making. They found their personal experience and the views of their clinician to be equally important and patient preference the least. Conclusion: Interns routinely employed high-quality levels of evidence in clinical decision making. They also considered their early, limited clinical experience as important as that of their clinical supervisor in decision making. This finding should be investigated further

Does Active Release Techniques ® (ART) cause a measurable change in the stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius?

This is a prospective cohort study designed to determine if shear wave elastography can reveal a measurable change in the muscle stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius after an ART® intervention. And to further investigate how long any potential changes in stiffness last within the medial gastrocnemius muscle post intervention

Differences of cutaneous two-point discrimination thresholds among students in different years of a chiropractic program

© 2017 Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate if there were differences in the two-point discrimination (2-PD) of fingers among students at different stages of a chiropractic program. Methods This study measured 2-PD thresholds for the dominant and nondominant index finger and dominant and nondominant forearm in groups of students in a 4-year chiropractic program at the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Measurements were made using digital calipers mounted on a modified weighing scale. Group comparisons were made among students for each year of the program (years 1, 2, 3, and 4). Analysis of the 2-PD threshold for differences among the year groups was performed with analysis of variance. Results The mean 2-PD threshold of the index finger was higher in the students who were in the higher year groups. Dominant-hand mean values for year 1 were 2.93 ± 0.04 mm and 1.69 ± 0.02 mm in year 4. There were significant differences at finger sites (P <.05) among all year groups compared with year 1. There were no significant differences measured at the dominant forearm between any year groups (P =.08). The nondominant fingers of the year groups 1, 2, and 4 showed better 2-PD compared with the dominant finger. There was a significant difference (P =.005) between the nondominant (1.93 ± 1.15) and dominant (2.27 ± 1.14) fingers when all groups were combined (n = 104). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrated that the finger 2-PD of the chiropractic students later in the program was more precise than that of students in the earlier program

The relationship between risky work behaviors and self-reported knee pain among Malaysian railway workers

Background: Knee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains at workplace and its prevalence ranges from 10 to 60%. Risky work behaviors are established risk factors. They result in functional impairment, disability and reduce quality of life. Objectives: This study aims to determine the relationships between risky work behaviors and knee AL-Dubai et al.; BJMMR, 10(3): 1-9, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.19097 2 pain among Malaysian railway workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 513 railway workers across eight states within Peninsular Malaysia. Socio-demographics, risky work behaviors, occupational safety and history of knee pain were obtained by direct interviews using a structured closed ended questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The prevalence of self-reported knee pain over the past one year was 31.6%. Multivariate analysis yielded six significant predictors of knee pain: Socio-demographics (tertiary education); risky work behaviors (lifting or carrying heavy objects, working in uncomfortable position of knee joint, repeated flexion and extension of knee joint, continuous sitting work); and occupational safety (applying Personal Protective Equipment - PPE during work). Conclusion: The significant associations between knee pain and risky work behaviors in railway workers point to urgent need for preventive measures, particularly in high risk occupations

The Relationship between Risky Work Behaviors and Self-Reported Knee Pain among Malaysian Railway Workers

Background: Knee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains at workplace and its prevalence ranges from 10 to 60%. Risky work behaviors are established risk factors. They result in functional impairment, disability and reduce quality of life. Objectives: This study aims to determine the relationships between risky work behaviors and knee AL-Dubai et al.; BJMMR, 10(3): 1-9, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.19097 2 pain among Malaysian railway workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 513 railway workers across eight states within Peninsular Malaysia. Socio-demographics, risky work behaviors, occupational safety and history of knee pain were obtained by direct interviews using a structured closed ended questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The prevalence of self-reported knee pain over the past one year was 31.6%. Multivariate analysis yielded six significant predictors of knee pain: Socio-demographics (tertiary education); risky work behaviors (lifting or carrying heavy objects, working in uncomfortable position of knee joint, repeated flexion and extension of knee joint, continuous sitting work); and occupational safety (applying Personal Protective Equipment - PPE during work). Conclusion: The significant associations between knee pain and risky work behaviors in railway workers point to urgent need for preventive measures, particularly in high risk occupations