Open Access

Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, volume 33, issue 1, publication number 3

Chiropractic international research collaborative (CIRCuit): the development of a new practice-based research network, including the demographics, practice, and clinical management characteristics of clinician participants

Kenneth J. Young ^{1, 2}

Sasha Aspinall ³

Silvano Mior ^{4, 5, 6, 7}

Jordan Gliedt ⁸

Joseph Spencer ⁹

Christoffer Børsheim ¹⁰

Jennifer Nash ¹¹

Melinda Ricci ¹²

Jonathan Shurr ¹³

Iben Axén ^{14, 15}

Show full list: 10 authors

Hide authors affiliations

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK |

University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa |

School of Allied Health College of Health and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia

⁴

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Canada |

⁵

Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

⁶

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada |

⁷

Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Ontario, Canada |

⁸

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA |

⁹

Research Facilitation and Delivery Unit Applied Health Research Hub, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

¹⁰

Private practice, Bergen, Norway |

¹¹

Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada |

¹²

Success Chiropractic Practice Serpentine Jarrahdale Chiropractic Practice, Whitby, Australia

¹³

Lancashire, UK |

¹⁴

Karolinska Institutet Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden

¹⁵

The Norwegian Chiropractors’ Research Foundation «Et Liv I Bevegelse», Oslo, Norway |

Publication type: Journal Article

Publication date: 2025-01-10

Springer Nature

Journal: Chiropractic and Manual Therapies

scimago Q1

wos Q2

SJR: 0.601

CiteScore: 3.2

Impact factor: 2

ISSN: 2045709X

DOI: 10.1186/s12998-025-00568-1

Copy DOI

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the structure and development of a new international, chiropractic, practice-based research network (PBRN), the Chiropractic International Research Collaborative (CIRCuit), as well as the demographic, practice, and clinical management characteristics of its clinician participants. An electronic survey was used to collect information on their demographics, practice, and clinical management characteristics from clinicians from 17 October through 28 November 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results.

Background

PBRNs are an increasingly popular way of facilitating clinic-based studies. They provide the opportunity to collaboratively develop research projects involving researchers, clinicians, patients and support groups. We are unaware of any international PBRNs, or any that have a steering group comprised of equal numbers of clinicians representing the different international regions.

Results

77 chiropractors responded to the survey (0.7% of EBCN-FB members). 48 were men (62%), 29 women (38%). Thirty-six (47%) were in North America, 18 (23%) in Europe, and 15 (19%) in Oceania. Participants reported predominantly treating musculoskeletal issues, often with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation (95%), but also with soft tissue therapy (95%), exercise (95%), and other home care (up to 100%).

Methods

The development of CIRCuit is described narratively. Members of the Evidence-Based Chiropractic Network Facebook group (EBCN-FB) were invited to become clinician participants by participating in the survey.

Conclusions

This paper describes the development of a new PBRN for chiropractors. It offers a unique opportunity to facilitate the engagement of clinical chiropractors with research, as well as for academics to readily be able to access an international cohort of clinicians to collaboratively develop and conduct research. Although the results of the survey are not statistically generalisable, the initial cohort of CIRCuit clinician participants use similar techniques on similar types of conditions as the profession at large. The international structure is unique among PBRNs and offers the opportunity to help develop innovative research projects.