| It has been suggested that clinicians should be looking at new ways to enhance their patients' self-care. Patient education is one strategy which primary providers may use. This study investigates the behaviour of chiropractic patients with a view to identifying the health information messages most needed in the chiropractic clinic. Research Methods: An exploratory study of chiropractic patients was undertaken to investigate patients' health-relevant behaviours. Purposive sampling of nine Australian chiropractic clinics was undertaken. Convenience sampling of patients attending these clinics resulted in 102 patients participating. Participants completed a questionnaire. Data was collected and collated with a view to describing the participants' dietary, exercise, medication and risk-screening behaviours. J?es/.z/l,i.r-l-he majority of patients in this study were non-smokers, did not abuse alcohol, exercised regularly, had a diverse diet: made sensible dietary choices and did not over-medicate. Most also had been screened for predictors of cardiovascular disease. The majority of females had been screened for the early detection of cervical and breast cancer. Conclusions:-The behaviour of participants in this study suggests that many chiropractic patients are aware of and behave in a manner consistent with well established health promotion messages. As a group, chiropractic attests may nonetheless benefit from their chiropractor's evaluation of topical health information. Health information messages should, however, always be tailored to the needs of the individual. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text by (print only) subscription.
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