• Peterson CK
• Miller J
• Humphreys BK
• Vall K

• Accreditation / standards
• Affiliation / AECC University College
• Affiliation / European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE)
• Affiliation / University of Zürich. Orthopaedic University Hospital Balgrist. Department of Chiropractic Medicine
• Affiliation(G) / Canada / British Columbia / South West Kelowna
• Affiliation(G) / England / Brockenhurst
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Arizona / Scottsdale
• Curriculum
• European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE)
• Open Access Document
• Quality Assurance, Health Care / standards
• Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: The European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE) currently accredits 10 programs throughout Europe and South Africa. It is assumed that ECCE evaluation activities lead to changes to the chiropractic programs but no systematic evaluation as to whether this is true, and the extent of changes has previously been done. The purpose of this study was to obtain feedback from program heads as to whether ECCE evaluation reports facilitated changes/improvements to their programs and to identify their reported changes.

Methods: This was a mixed methods audit study using questionnaires with 2 sections. Closed statements requesting the degree of change to each section of the “Standards” based on ECCE evaluation reports (substantial, some, none) were analyzed using frequencies. Written responses identifying the specific changes made based on previous evaluation reports were evaluated independently by 3 researchers using a modified “thematic analysis” approach.

Results: All 10 accredited programs responded. Seven of the 10 programs (70%) reported “some” or “substantial” changes to ≥ 6 sections of the ECCE Standards. The most common section with reported changes was “Educational Program” (8 of 10). “Educational Resources” had the largest number of programs reporting “substantial changes” (4) and was the second most common section to have reported changes. The main themes identified emphasized changes in “infrastructure, equipment and faculty,” “increasing evidence-based practice,” and “instilling a research culture in faculty and students.”

Conclusion: ECCE accreditation processes facilitate changes to the chiropractic programs, particularly in the areas of improved infrastructure and faculty, research, and evidence-based practice.

Author keywords: Chiropractic, Education, Accreditation, Healthcare Quality Assurance

Author affiliations: CKP: European Council on Chiropractic Education, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States; JM: AECC University College; BKH: Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, South West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; KV: European Council on Chiropractic Education, Brockenhurst, United Kingdom
Corresponding author: Cynthia Peterson—cynthia.peterson@cce-europe.org

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