Public Health Competencies for Chiropractic Programs

Abstract

The public health contribution of various health care professions is shaped by their education and areas of expertise. Growing recognition of musculoskeletal pain as a top driver of health care expenses and of back pain as the leading cause of years lived with disability suggest a greater public health role for the chiropractic profession in the United States and globally. There is little consensus on the depth or breadth of public health competencies within doctor of chiropractic programs that would optimize public health awareness and advocacy by chiropractic practitioners. Building on public health competencies published by other health care professions, an iterative consensus building process with chiropractic professional and educational leaders was used to generate a core set of public health competencies for the chiropractic profession. Sixteen competencies in four domains were developed and agreed to as necessary for chiropractors to more fully support the public health of the communities they serve and are being incorporated across chiropractic academic entities.