Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106778

Cameron Borody, BSc DC FCCSS(C), Clinical Education, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 6100 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON M2H 3J1, Canada, 416-482-2340, cborody@cmcc.ca

Public health education in chiropractic college curriculum has been frequently discussed at recent meetings of chiropractic educators (ACC-RAC 2004, APHA 2004). The potential impact of chiropractors on leading causes of mortality and morbidity has lead to changes to teaching methods in the public health course at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. We have changed the delivery of the course to focus on improving student attitudes towards public health and provide mentors to inspire reflection on their role as a future health care provider. We feature a roster of guest lecturers including representatives from local public health care departments and chiropractic clinicians actively involved in community-based public health and health promotion activities. These changes have lead to significant improvements in both student satisfaction and clinical relevance. New assessment methods have been applied which challenge the students to consider the relationship between chiropractic and its impact on issues of public health. A previous study of chiropractic educators, clinicians and students indicated that the majority of those surveyed believed that chiropractors may provide clinical preventive services particularly with respect to physical activity and diet. The topics chosen by students for their assignments in this course may serve to broaden this view and facilitate the discussion of chiropractors as contributors to public health and health promotion beyond traditional roles in musculoskeletal care.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the current role of chiropractic in public health.
• Describe the evolution of public health education in chiropractic college.
• Evaluate the future of chiropractic in public health and public health education.

Keywords: Chiropractic, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation