Advancing diversity in chiropractic care 

Chiropractic patients have one thing in common: They want to maintain or improve their health and believe the methodologies and techniques used by doctors of chiropractic can help them achieve this goal.

Yet, some studies suggest there is a lack of diversity among people who use chiropractic care, suggesting a need to institute strategies to widen its reach. 

Chiropractic utilization demographics

In March 2023, the Journal of Integrative Medicine published a review of 69 articles designed to assess chiropractic utilization disparities. To be part of the review, an article had to include the utilization of chiropractic approaches and provide patient demographic information. The demographics analyzed were patient race and ethnicity, education levels, income levels and employment status. 

After compiling and reviewing the data, researchers reported that people who use chiropractic the most fall within the following demographic categories: 

• White, non-Hispanic White and/or European American 
• Employment as their primary source of income 
• Individual or family incomes between $40,001 and $60,000 annually 
• An educational level at or below a high school diploma or general education certificate 

Impact of chiropractic disparities

One reason this information is important is that individuals outside these categories often have an elevated risk of certain musculoskeletal issues. One example is osteoarthritis. 

Research published in The Journal of Pain indicates that while more than 32.5 million adult Americans have this condition characterized by pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, African Americans have higher pain severity than non-Hispanic whites. They also have higher self-reported disability and perform more poorly on functional performance tests. 

Other pieces of research have found a correlation between musculoskeletal issues and level of education. For example, one study involving 300 nurses indicated that those with lower educational levels tended to have more musculoskeletal symptoms.  

Strategies for advancing diversity in chiropractic care

Finding ways to broaden the use of chiropractic across a variety of demographics can help reduce disparities in its reach. An approach to consider is taking the steps to represent a wide range of patients in your practice’s marketing campaigns. 

Look at the images your practice uses on its website, social media pages, pamphlets and other marketing materials. Do the people in these images tend to fall within similar demographic categories in terms of race, income, education or socioeconomic status? If so, including individuals from other categories may help your practice feel more welcoming to those from these backgrounds. 

Another option is to publish blogs or articles addressing elevated challenges or risks faced by people from differing demographics. Share the latest research and provide tips for ways to reduce these risks and challenges, offering these patients improved musculoskeletal health. 

Also, think outside the box in terms of demographics. Consider the additional ways patients can vary, such as age, body mass index, physical activity levels and even mental health. A review of eight studies found connections between back pain and depression, also associating disc herniation with anxiety. Informing potential patients about these associations will help them understand the benefits of chiropractic for people from many walks of life. 

Improving workforce diversity

Research also reports the diversity of healthcare workers can influence service delivery quality by reducing potential communication barriers while also increasing awareness of and sensitivity to certain cultural issues. Other studies have found when patients work with healthcare professionals within the same race, they tend to be more satisfied with their care, have higher levels of trust and receive greater-quality care. 

Hiring chiropractic staff from diverse groups can help patients within these groups feel more welcome, while improving their perceived quality of care. In this way, developing a diverse practice internally can promote diversity externally, creating a more diverse patient base. 

Final thoughts

Chiropractic care has so much to offer people from all walks of life. Doing what you can to promote diversity, such as hiring from diverse groups and portraying them in your marketing materials, can go a long way toward attracting underserved groups to your practice and introducing them to the life-enhancing care that you provide.