The Health Care Provider's Role and Patient Compliance to Health Promotion Advice From the User's Perspective: Analysis of the 2006 National Health Interview Survey Data

Ndetan, Harrison; Evans, Marion Willard; Bae, Sejong; Felini, Martha; Rupert, Ronald; Singh, Karan P.

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.06.009

« Previous Next »Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 33, Issue 6 , Pages 413-418, July 2010

The Health Care Provider's Role and Patient Compliance to Health Promotion Advice From the User's Perspective: Analysis of the 2006 National Health Interview Survey Data

Harrison Ndetan, MSc, MPH, DrPH
- Assistant Professor, Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, Tex
- Submit requests for reprints to: Harrison Ndetan, MSc, MPH, DrPH, Assistant Professor, Parker College of Chiropractic, 2500 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229
Marion Willard Evans Jr, DC, PhD
- Director of Wellness Initiatives, Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, Tex
Sejong Bae, PhD
- Professor of Biostatistics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Tex
Martha Felini, DC, PhD
- Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Tex
Ronald Rupert, MS, DC
- Dean of Research, Parker College of Chiropractic, Dallas, Tex
Karan P. Singh, PhD
- Professor/Chair, Department of Biostatistics and Osteopathic Research Center, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Tex

Received 8 February 2010; received in revised form 6 April 2010; accepted 7 April 2010.

Abstract

Objective

The recommendations of health care providers have been shown to be a predictor of future healthy behaviors. However, patient adherence to these recommendations may differ based upon the type of health care professional providing the information. This study explored patient compliance in the United States over a 12-month period and contracted the patient response to recommendations given by chiropractors versus medical doctors.

Methods

Multiple logistic regression models were used for analyses of data from the Sample Adult Core component of the 2006 National Health Interview Survey (n = 24 275). Analyses were performed separately for recommendation and compliance of weight loss, increase exercise, and diet change by health profession subtype (chiropractor and medical doctor).

Results

About 30.5% of the respondents reported receiving advice from their provider. Among these, 88.0% indicated they complied with the advice they received. Patients who were advised were more likely to comply (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 10.41[9.34-11.24]). Adjusting for seeing a physical therapist, age, and body mass index, chiropractors were less likely to advice patients compared to medical doctors (OR [95% CI], 0.38 [0.30-0.50]). In general, there was a 21% increased odds that patients who received and complied with health promotion advice from their health care provider would report an improved health status (OR [95% CI], 1.21 [1.10-1.33]) compared with those who did not comply or were not advised.

Conclusion

Chiropractors in the United States give health promotion recommendation to their patients but are less likely to do so than general medical doctors. Patients tend to comply with health providers' recommendations and those who do report better health.

Key Indexing Terms: Physicians, Chiropractic, Health Promotion, Weight Loss, Exercise, Diet