Abstract
Objective
This study investigates the cognitive competency of final-year chiropractic students
in musculoskeletal medicine.
Methods
The face, content, and criterion validity of the Basic Clinical Examination (BCE)
for musculoskeletal medicine were tested for use in chiropractic education. After
validity testing, the BCE was administered in a cross-sectional design to all fourth
year students (154) attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Results
Twenty percent (5 questions) of the BCE was deemed not relevant or outside of the
scope of practice by criterion experts. One hundred twenty-three (80%) fourth year
chiropractic interns participated in the cross-sectional study. Interns achieved a
51.2% passing rate (mean score, 73.2%; 95% confidence interval, 82%-71.8%) for the
25-item BCE, whereas the criterion experts achieved a 100% passing rate. For the modified
20-item BCE, the interns' mean score was 80.8%, whereas the criterion experts' mean
score rose to 92.8%.
Conclusions
Most final-year chiropractic interns at this college was found to be competent in
musculoskeletal medicine as assessed by the Basic Competency Examination. This is
in contradiction to previous work with medical students, recent medical graduates,
nonorthopedic staff physicians, osteopathic students, and physical therapy students.
Chiropractic clinicians with postgraduate training showed considerably better results
than chiropractic interns. Problems pertaining to the content validity (relevance
and scope of practice for chiropractors) of the BCE need to be addressed.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 29,
2006
Received in revised form:
July 19,
2006
Received:
January 27,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- ErratumJournal of Manipulative & Physiological TherapeuticsVol. 30Issue 3
- PreviewIn the January 2007 article by Humphreys et al, the abstract needs correction. The first sentence of the abstract's conclusion states that “Most final-year chiropractic interns at this college was found to be competent….” The sentence should read thus: “Most final-year chiropractic interns at this college were found to be competent….” We regret the error.
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