Chiropractors and homeopaths are trusted sources of health information for many Canadians, including around vaccination. However, within Ontario, Canada, the College of Chiropractors of Ontario and the College of Homeopaths of Ontario regulations state that vaccines are not within their scope of practice and providers should not express views, treat, or advise patients with respect to vaccination.
The aims of the present study were to:
- (1) describe the attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination held among participating chiropractors and homeopaths;
- (2) identify the sources of information about vaccination they trust and use to guide their personal vaccination decisions;
- (3) describe how they navigate patient requests for guidance on vaccine decision-making within the current regulatory landscape.
Semi-structured interviews (N = 16) were conducted between February 2020-March 2021 and explored participants’ opinions on vaccination, sources of information they trust and recommend to their patients, and how they navigate vaccine conversations with patients.
Providers’ personal beliefs regarding vaccination were described as reinforced by social and professional networks, through their personal experiences, and in consultation with clients. Various strategies were used to support patients while abiding by regulations (e.g. referring patients to providers for whom vaccination is within their scope of practice); however, other strategies described (e.g., stating personal beliefs) could be interpreted as a breach of regulation.
The authors conclused that this research reinforces existing literature suggesting that patients using chiropractors and homeopaths have questions about vaccination and are looking for trusted information. Public health services should consider engaging with chiropractors and homeopaths to facilitate communication between patients and immunization providers.
I ask myself whether any reliable evidence can come out of an interview study of 16 practitioners conducted almost 5 years ago. In the discussion section, the authors state this:
Various strategies were used by chiropractors and homeopaths to support patients while abiding by their professional scope of practice guidelines, limiting their capacity to provide recommendations for vaccination. Despite incidences of breaches in regulation, there may be opportunities for these providers to play a role in vaccine promotion. Many chiropractors and homeopaths report an interest from their clients for information about vaccination to guide their decision-making. Regulatory frameworks might be revised to permit them to refer to resources promoting vaccine uptake (i.e., NACI, government websites, etc.). There will no doubt remain challenges to such pathways, as hurdles remain related to persistent distrust in public health interventions and vaccination, and providers who continue to breach regulation. However, it is possible that in partnering with chiropractors and homeopaths, and though beyond our data, perhaps other CAM providers, public health providers might grow trust in their patients as a means for vaccine promotion.
I would have thought that the main issue regarding informing patients about vaccination – or any other health-relaated matter – is reliability: the public needs information based on sound evidence. We know from many studies that homeopaths and chiropractors often do believe in lots of things other than or contrary to evidence. Therefore, I feel that partnering with chiropractors and homeopaths would require first of all that these practitioners alter their stance on evidence. As both chiropractors and homeopaths work in anti-science professions and environments, this seems to be an insurmountable task. The last thing we need is a bunch of charlatans increasing the already huge amount of misinformation consumers are exposed to currently.
7 Responses to How do homeopaths and chiropractors navigate patient requests for vaccination information?
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EE: As both chiropractors and homeopaths work in anti-science professions
The chiropractic profession rejects science and the scientific method?
@DC
Yup:
– Chiropractic started out as utter pseudoscientific nonsense.
– Many chiropractors still subscribe to those nonsensical principles like subluxations.
– And even many of those who reject subluxations still make outrageous claims that have no foundation in science whatsoever, e.g. that spinal ‘adjustment’ (which is also nonsense b.t.w. – you can’t adjust the spine in any persistent way by just some yanking and pushing) somehow improves the immune system and cures a host of ailments that have nothing whatsoever to do with musculoskeletal problems.
– And even those who limit themselves to purely musculoskeletal interventions for ditto complaints will perform and keep performing treatments that are suspected to come with a small but real risk of very serious harm – treatments that, once again, have no scientifically proven benefit.
– Very few chiropractic RCT’s are performed, about 15 per year on average, which is a pathetically low number for something that claims to be an important type of health intervention. Admittedly, these RCT’s regularly have positive outcomes (albeit usually with only modest effect sizes at best), but overall, the scientific basis under chiropractic as a system of treatment is exceedingly weak. Many if not most of its practitioners are still doing stuff that is best described as rank quackery, rejecting science and even endangering their customers.
the original comment by EE was directed at the entire profession. Your statement that RCTs are being conducted by the profession will by default disqualify the profession as being anti-science. But perhaps he doesn’t know the definition of anti-science.
” perhaps he doesn’t know the definition of anti-science” – yes, perhaps, and certainly not as well as a chiro who is living it.
@DC
Homeopaths also conduct RCT’s. But they are absolutely anti-scientific – if only because they refuse to accept that those RCT’s taken as a whole clearly show that homeopathy doesn’t do anything.
But I appreciate your tacit acceptance that many if not most chiropractors do not adhere to scientific standards. Which is why I consider the profession as a whole to be unscientific.
These are not synonymous
Anti-science: opposed to or not accepting scientific ideas and methods (Cambridge)
Unscientific: not obeying scientific methods or principles
To state the chiropractic profession is anti-science but yet uses the scientific method is the logical fallacy of inconsistency.
Ernst just used the wrong word.
Chiro‑troll has been deploying:
• (chiefly) a modal scope fallacy;
• a type–token category error;
• a distraction from the salient SCAM topic of Edzard’s post: How do homeopaths and chiropractors navigate patient requests for vaccination information?